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

tie about the business, which they had
been compelled to enter through force
of circumstances. Mr.. Offerman had
charge of the factory, while Kuehne
was for many years the only saiesm nan
during the latter part of the eighties.
and Kuehne was obliged to take charge
of the entire business.
The business of the factory did ut
prosper until 1898 when the picking
| business was added. From that time
on it took a steady growth Later the
preserving factory was added and siucs
| that time the growth of the business
has been enormous. Mr.. kuehne kept
pace with the demands of the business
and new buildings and equipment has
been added from time to time until
when destroyed by this mornings fire
| the plant enjoyed the distinction of be-
/ ing one of the largest and best equip
ped in the west
| During the past twelve months the
plant put out in the neighborhood of
| 100000 barrels of vinegar, 10000 barrels
of pickles. and 5000 barrels of catsup.
Seventy-five employees were on the pay
rolls of the plant.
The Dead Fireman.
Harry Jones, the young fire laddie
who lost his life this morning, after be-
ing crushed beneath a falling wall, was
fighting his first fire. He had been a
member of the Topeka fire department
only three months and although dur
ing this time he had responded to many
alarms. this was his first real fire.
| Jones was one of the youngest mem
| bers of the fire department, reaching his
ajority only last May. He Joined the
department in June.
! But little is known of the unfortunate
lad here, as this was not his home
His father lives in Dombey, Ok, and
his mother has been dead for a num-
Der of years. Jones came to Shawnee
county about two years ago and made
his home with F. T. Clark at Silver
Lake for some time. Clark was an old
friend of the family, who had known
them in Missouri before they moved
to Oklahoma last March He was
forced to leave home early in life. His
fathers family is a large one and are
not very well-to-do. and being moth
erless lad he was forced to make his
own way in life at an age much earlier
than the average young man. For two
years before coming to Kansas young
Jones had worked for various farmers
iE the neighborhood of his home in
to work for Mrs. Phoebe Palmer, who
runs the Palmer hotel in Silver Lake.
He remained at this place for several
months, when he came to Topeka. Be
Jones worked for a short time for the |
Topeka Railway company as a street
car conductor, and only quit this po- |
sition to enter the service of the fire
department.
A younger brother. Walter Jones, |
visited him here and left only last
Thursday for his home in Oklahoma. |
The dead boy had never visited his |
folks in Oklahoma. but had spent a few
days with them last Christmas while
they were still in Missouri
The dead boy was held in high es-
TEEN by his associates in the depart |
mept. He was a very energetic lad and |
never seemed to shirk from work. He |
was always willing to work, and was
always cheerful and good natured. He
was dear good boy" said Mrs. Palmer |
this morning HE was so pleasant all
the time, and seemed to think a lot of
US. Having never had a mother, he
seemed to appreciate all that I could
do for him.
Mrs. Palmer was much grieved this
morning when she learned of Jones |
death. She wired his father of the |
death, and the disposition of the re-
mains will await word from Oklahoma.
The Injured Fireman.
Albert G. Gurtler, the fireman who
was badly injured While standing be- |
side his partner. Harry Jones, is one
OF the experienced men of the Topeka
fire department. He has been in the
employ of the department for seven |
years. His position is driver of chemi- |
cal No. 1. Gurtler Is man about 35 |
years of age with a wife and three |
children. This fact is another contribu- |
ton to tie fortunate escape when the |
walls fell at the picking works this |
morning.
Gurtler first Joined the department
when his brother was captain of the |
North side station. Captain. Gurtler was |
one of the best fire fighters Topeka has
ever known and his brother has the |
same characteristics. He is a careful
ard efficient driver and a heady fire
fighter. He is under the service of
Lieutenant Garrett and Captain Gill |
man. Gurtler is a Topekan, born in |
South Topeka. He now lives at 120
Evelyn avenue.
Mr.. Kuehne and His Plant.
The Kuehne plant has been doing
about $500, 600 worth OF business year.
This is the busy time of year and Mr.
Kuehne was about to hire 25 extra men
for the handling of the increased work
in the plant Orders for three months
ahead were on hand and the men We're
orking nights to catch up. Last night
Mr.. Kuehne and his clerks worked I'M
til late into the night checking over
their orders and clearing up the books:
1--WE have just shipped carload or
stock to Oklahoma and were preparing
tc ship five more cars, said Otto
know what these people will do down
there because have promised them
the shipment at once. There is no doubt
about US building the plant up imme-
6iately.''
Only Wednesday afternoon Mr.
Kuehne was talking to a State Journal
reporter and stated at that time that
he was planning a trip to the old coun-
try in Germany. He was hunting for
a competent man to fill his place and
intended % say a year. The fire has
interfered with his plans and when
asked about The Germany trip this
morning he laughed and sald:
II guess I will have to stay in Amer
lea for a few more years and build my
business up again. But viii nave
good goal to work toward SO can push
r. alters more heavily.
81 had just finished an order for au-
tomatic fire doors fer the plant and