Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-11
FIRE LOSS 100000
Abattoir and Electric Power
House Destroyed.
AN EARLY MORNING BLAZE
Property Owned by Columbia Cotton
Oil and Provision Company.
MANY OUT OF EMPLOYMENT
Plant Located at Relee, Va, Near
Washington-City Fire De-
partment Summoned.

The big three-story abattoir, electric
power house and the boiler house of the
plant of the Columbia Cotton Oil and
Provision Corporation. located at Relee
Alexandria county Va, on the ssouth
side Of the Potomac river, were totally
destroyed by fire this morning. nothing
being left but tangled mass Of ma
chinery and galvanized iron. A new ad-
dition to the plant, a six-story structure
of f1re-proof construction, in which the
cotton seed oil and lard compound was
made and packed, was uninjured, though
located less than fifty feet away from
the burned buildings.
G. P. Sacks of this city, president of the
company, states that the loss will be
about 100000 on building and stock. This
Is partially covered by insurance, but to
what amount Mr.. Sacks was unable to
determine this morning. AS soon as the
insurance can be adjusted the abattoir
will be rebuilt. The electric plant will be
reconstructed at once, 50 that operations
in the lard compound plant can be re-
sumed, the burning Of the power house
having temporarily put that part of the
works out of commission.
Origin of Fire Not Known.
The fire started about 4:3O o'clock this
morning in what is known as the ma
chine shop. How the flames originated is
not known, but when first noticed the
roof of the building was ablaze. In a few
minutes the flames had spread to the ad-
joining buildings and the flre-hghting ap-
pliances Of the plant were utterly unable
to cope with them An appeal for assist
ance was sent to this city and engine
companies 13. 16 and 4 were sent to the
scene.
Deputy Chief Sullivan. who is acting
as chief Of the department in the alb
sence Of Chief Wagner. kept with the
apparatus and took personal charge Of
the fire fighters
When the District firemen arrived there
was little they could do, except to pre-
vent the spread Of the flames. The heat
from the burning building was so in
tense that the glass In the windows in
the big brick, concrete and steel hreproof
structure was broken, and seemed for
short time as II the inflammable con-
tents of the building would ignite. but
by keeping streams Of water on the big
building this was prevented. The water
for the fire engines was obtained from
big concrete reservoir. built within the
last six months. which was kept filled
with water from the river to supply the
boilers of the plant. Engines Nos. 13 and
16 were stationed alongside the reservoir.
dIiQ NO was sent u dTdVchy TuIs d
half mile away, to pump water into the,
reservoir. BY this means an abundant
supply Of water was insured and the
work Of the firemen made effective.
At pm. today water was still being
thrown upon the smoldering ruins. and 1t
Is probable that 1t will be late this after
noon before the Washington firemen will
be able to return to the city.
Ammonia Tank Explodes.
During the progress Of the fire early
this morning an ammonia tank in the
refrigerating plant, located in the electric
plant building. was exploded by the heat.
The force of the explosion blew out
the north wall of the building. throwing
the debris high in the air. but no one was
hurt. That the firemen who were work
ing near the point Of the explosion es-
capped unhurt is surprising.
The burned abattoir was one OF the
largest buildings Of its kind in this
killed about 1000 hogs. besides a large
number of cattle. and its destruction
will seriously hamper the firm s meat
handling industry.
Stored in the building this morning
when the fire started were over a thou
sand hogs in process Of being made
ready for market; sixty-seven cattle
which had been killed for the United
States government, and Ave or six car
loads Of lard, all Of which were con-
sumed, and when the flames reached
these the fierceness Of the fire was
largely augmented.
When the fire was at its height this
morning, the flames went a hundred
iy from this city. attracting many to
the plant.
The abattoir building and the boiler
house were Of frame construction. COW
cred with galvanized iron. The power
house was a new brick building, and
was fitted with modern electrical equip
ment for power and lighting. The
abattoir was built about eight years
ago by the Virginia Abat-
toir Company. a local corporation.
About three years ago 1t was absorbed
by the Columbia Cotton Oil and Pro-
vision Corporation. composed of local
capitalists. G. p. Sacks of Golden &
Co. is it's president: Daniel Frazer, vice
& Co.. secretary, and E. NJ. Brown. gen
eral manager. Clarence F. Norment,
Charlie ]. Bell. G. G. White and others
of this city are directors In the corpo-
ration
When the plant was acquired by it's
nresent owners il was rebuilt and en-
iarged and filled with modern machinery
ALI Of which was rendered worthless by
the heat OF the blaze this morning.
Plant Temporarily Idle.
The corporation Is capitalized at $780,
OOO and is one Of the largst OF local
business combinations.
In consequnce Of the destruction OF
the electric power house the undamaged
portion of the plant is forced to remain
idle until new electric equipment can be
obtained and installed. This enforced
susnension OF operations will cause q loss
of several thousand dollars q day, besides
throwing a large force OF operators out
M employment. The $4,000 loss Is on
building and contents. about $3.50, 900 rep
resenting the loss on the buildings and
machinery and $4,000 on the stock on
hand.
While no meeting of the directors Of
the CORPORATION has yet been held, 1t is
stated positively that the plant will be
reb,IiIt as soon as possible.
Revivalist Finds Wife Dead.
PHILADELPHIA. July 11.-Mrs. Julia
Frances Lowe, the wife of John j. Lowe.
an evangelist. was found dead in a gas
eued room at her home here YESTERDAY