The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-23

CONTINUED from Page One.)
front end of the building and was dis
covered by O. Smith, the night watch
man at the buildin, about 4:20. In
stead of shutting the fire doors and
thus placing the fire department in a
position to save the most valuable por-
ton of the big building, the Waterman
ran as fast as he could from the works
and turned in the alarm. When he
returned with Otto Kuehne the roof of
the building was a mass of flames. The
fire companies arrived a few minutes
later and three streams of water were
trained upon the flames.
Origin of Fire Unknown.
The cause of the fire is unknown
A started in the front end of the build
ing where there is no fire of any kind
and where there is nothing but pre-
serving machines and stock Electric
wires are supposed to have been the
cause, however-they were. fastened
near the origin of the fire. No other
cause can be given. There is no gas
in this end of the works.
Mr.. Kuehne, himself, was at the
scene of the fire from the first discov-
cry until late this afternoon directing
his men who jumped from their beds
and came to the help of their employ
er-and giving whatever information
needed by the fremen in their work.
When asked concerning the insurance
and the prospects for rebuilding Mr..
Kuehne said:
VIII Rebuild AT once on bigger scale.
1.-The insurance upon the building
and the stock is about $4,000 This
is the busy part of the year and we
are way behind in our orders. We
must have a place to work and it is
my intention to rebuild at once on
the same site. We have the elevator,
the boilers and engines and num-
Der of sheds left-the new building
will be rebuilt as soon as we can set
tie the insurance and get the work
men on the ground The new build
ing will be modern and freproof and
will be much larger than the plant
that burned this morning.
When asked about the number of
men employed and the future pros
poets of the company. Mr.. Kuehne
said: a
This Was Busy Season
when the fire occurred we were
employing rs men. When the new
building is built we will employ at
least 125 and probably more. The
new plant will undoubtedly have sew
eral new features although of course
have not had a minute of time to
plan them out. This fire came at
very bad time-we were head over
heels in orders and were shipping a
number of car loads a day. 1t makes
it necessary for me to call my road
men back to headquarters. Twelve
of them are now out through the
country taking orders. I would not
have sold that plant for $150.OOO be-
fore the fire-everything was in
smooth running order and we were
stocking up heavily. But it has hap
pened and We are going to do our
best to increase our business. We
will stay in Topeka as long as bust
ness keeps up this way and there is
no reason to think that business will
not hold out forever"
Fire Had Too Big Start.
From a f1remen's point of view it
building and it's contents. When the
companies arrived the flames were
raging through into the top story and
over most OF the building. Then the
fire plugs are few and far between in
this part of the city-end it was only
possible to play three weak streams
upon. the conagration. he chemical
engines from all ovef tina city wefo
used aid refi;Ied fast as possible. 1t
was Only through the exec; ent work
of the hrenen that the big elevator
fail of grain and the oosI@r room at
the rear Of the plant were saved. A
Company of men were placed 10 guard
these aXrcusive additions TO the plant
and several times the fire leaped over
into them. licked by few timbers
and then was extinguished by the
precious amount of water which was
used as judiciously as possible.
Saved Some Equipment.
The small sheds and cider tanks to-
ment were untouched by the flames.
The big elevator was filled with grain
and this was saved. The engine and
boilers in the rear of the plant have
been repaired and renewed lately and
they are safe from any damage These
two sections will be a valuable nucleus
around whic hto build the rest of the
plant when the plans for rebuilding
are made.
Rock Island Engines Gave Alarm.
The alarm to the people of the city
came in through the source of Rock
Island engines which stood in the
yards across the river. The railroad
fire jerk as 1T is called was given on
all the engines in the yards and woke
up people all over the city. Later the
fire bell pealed forth. Crowds surged
down Kansas avenue to the scene and
during the progress of the fire the
Melan bridge was crowded with spec
tators. The fire lighted up the sky and
on account of the acids and sugar
stored in the building the fire was
spectacular and brilliant
Fire Walls ii Inches Thick.
The old building was a large three
story structure with a basement 1t
was built of stone with a massive fire
wall between the vinegar and the pre-
serving rooms. The walls were built
of stone and were II inches thick. The
three standing walls are good for the
new building.
1t was stated by Mr.. Kuehne this
afternoon that the vinegar department
Or the west end of the main building
could have been saved If the Waterman,
o. Smith. had closed the fire doors as
soon as he had discovered the flames
ar. the room. Mr. Kuehne himself closed
the doors to the boiler room and the
elevator and saved these departments
The bulldif g was divided by a big stone
wall equipped with fire doors and Win
dows-
Valuable Machinery Ruined
The machinery in the vinegar depart
ment was the most valuable of the
plant. Mr.. Kuehne valued this at S75-