Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-12-17
BIG PLANT OF RACINE MANUFAC-
TURING CO. IS DESTROYED
BY BLAZE.
MILWAUKEE SENDS AN ENGINE.
Members of Chief Clancy's Force Relay
Racine Firemen and Suffer from
Blizzard and Blaze.
FAMILIES FLEE IN NIGHTCLOTHES.

RACINE, Wis, Dec. 13.-Fire early
Sunday morning destroyed the plant of
the Racine Manufacturing company and
loss of S6OO,OOO Frozen fire plugs and
inadequate water supply contributed to
make the fire the most disastrous expert
enced by the city in many years. En-
gines were sent from Milwaukee and Ke-
nosha, the fremen lending welcome relief
to the local force.
For while the fire seemed certain 20
destroy the big plants Of the j. l. Case
Pillow company, the Mitchell-Lewis Wag-
on company and the Klinkert brewery,
together with nearby buildings. AS 1t
was, the Danish Brotherhood hall. the
Peter Zinnn block, saloon, boarding
house and the warehouse of the Mitchell
Lewis company were burned, while four
teen residences in the vicinity were dam
aged to from $500 to $1,000.
Origin Not Ascertained.
The fire, of unknown origin, started i'll
the milroOm of the Racine Manufacture
ing company and spread quickly to the
other FIVE buildings comprising the plant
in which We're made piano stools anc
automobile bodies. On their arrival the
tiremen found the nearest hydrant frozen
finally with other hydrants the water
pressure proved inadequate
Fire Marshal Cape's call for AID was
responded to by Engine company NO; 10
and ten men under Capt. William Trot-
ter. who came from Milwaukee on spe-
cial train over the North-N estefn roao.
On their arrival there were not suhclehl
hydrants to which to attach hose so the
apparatus was not unloaded. but the
men helped the Racine fremen unui =
o'clock in the afternoon
The Racine Manufacturing company
employed 1900 workmen, all OF whOm
lost their tools, worth from 500 to $40
Der set. Most of the residences dam
aged were owned by this company and
occupied by its employees. rms com ON
nany's loss isS6OO,O00. with $25OOO0
insurance. The main building was six
stories high, the others being four
stories high.
Firemen Suffer Much
No lives were lost. The fremen sui
fered greatly from exposure in the biz
gard which was raging, and many had
faces burned and blistered from the herce
heat, which cast a glare so strong that
newspaper could be read ten DOCKS
away.
Destroyed in the manufacturing plant
were 10000 piano stools and 5000 auto
mobile tops The loss of the latter will
greatly discommode a number of eastern
and Chicago automobile plants, which
utilize this part of the concerns output.
The Sixth street yladuct was so badly
burned it will be out of commission for
some time, and hundreds of telephones
and electric lights are useless because
of melted wires. The heavy snowfall
doubtless saved many residences when
blazing embers were blown upon the
roofs AS it was, families fled in their
nightclothes for fear of being caught in
the fire.
Strike Was Considered?
Some of the employees say there was
to be Il strike at the factory this morn
ing, they having been refused an ad
vance in wages, but q grievance commit
tee was to be appointed today to meet
the officers of the company
The Racine Manufacturing company
has had remarkable growth and it was
organized III 1902 with capital of sos
900 under the name of the Racine Nov
city company. A year ago the company
amended its articles of Incorporation, in
creased the capital stock to $5OO,0OO and
began the erection of four, five and six
story buildings.
1t soon became the leading factory of
the country in the manufacture of auto
mobile bodies.
All patterns and designs of the COM
pany have been destroyed by the fire. as
we'll as books and records, as there was
no opportunity to save any property.
Whether the company will rebuild its
plant is unknown, but it is believed it
will. The company has spent $4,000
within three months in the purchase of
property on which to erect factory build
ings.