The Paducah evening sun., 1910-02-26

Ed. Roos company-$55 900; in
surance $4,000.
observation-disclosures Basket COM
pany plant-$5,00O; insurance $780,
900.
East Tennessee Telephone COM
pany-$30O; damage to wires.
One of the most destructive fires
in Paducah in several years occurred
this morning, when the plant Of the
Ed. Roos company, manufacturers
of curtain poles, picture frames and
furniture novelties, at Meyers ana
Clements streets, was completely de-
stroyed. Flames leaped across Mey-
ers street and caught vacant ware
house of the Mergenthaler-Hort
Basket company and burned a water
tank, which was over 100 feet high.
Aided by strong wind from the
west the fire was one of the hottest
in the history of the fire depart
ment. Eight streams of hose were
turned on the blaze. but until the
building was in ashes the water had
little effect except to prevent a
spread to other property. The fac
tory is located in the factory district,
and a wind from the east would
have resulted in many houses on
Clements street being burned.
SO hot was the blaze, that the
fire sprinkling system in the basket
company was completely burned.
One of the large warehouses was
damaged seriously, but the main
building, where the valuable basket
machines are kept, was not damaged
by fire, although slight damage was
sustained by the collapsing of the
water tower. The entire loss is COW
cred by insurance.
Starts In Stock Room.
The fire was discovered about
1880 O'Clock in the stock room,
which is in the rear of the office near
the north western corner of the
large building. Cause is unknown,
but spontaneous combustion is sus-
pected. The fire was first discov-
cred by Eddie Knight, and Eddie
Payne, two boys working in the fin
ishing room. which was between the
Office and stock room. The alarm
was given, and employees stated at
the time the blaze could be extin-
guished with a few buckets of water.
In less than a minute, however, the
flames found the dry light wood,
good food for the hungry flames.
Almost in less time than 1t takes
to relate it the fire had spread to the
upper story of the building, and
burst through the room. Box 81
was pulled. and every fire company,
including the engine. answered the
alarm. When the No. 2 hose COM
pany reached the scene after a few
blocks run the smoke was so dense
that the water plug could not be
seen, and the heat was so intense
that the firemen had to fight it from
a distance until they could work
their way to the building. Fire
Chief Wood directed eight streams
of water on the burning building.
Everything was lost by the com
pany. Even the contents of the safe
were destroyed. Mr.. Ed. Roos, presi.
dent of the company. was in the
office when the alarm was given
He closed the doors of the safe and
barely had time to get out OF the
building. However. the heat sprung
the doors. and it Is certain all OF the
books were burned.
The company occupied a frame
building 250x150 feet, and most oi
It was about two stories In height
The machinery was in the rear oil
the factory, and is all destroyed. The
loss is estimated between $4,000
and 100000, covered by insurance.
One hundred men were employed
and the company was in the midst
of busy season. Orders for many
carloads of material were on the
company's books.
II is certain that the company will
rebuild, and the buildings of the
ergenthaler-Horton Basket COM
pany may be used until new build
ing can be erected.
The fire sprinkling system nc
doubt saved the basket plant, which
cost 100000. The warehouse was
nearest the fire, and while the blaze
was at its height a solid stream oi
water was poured into the building
The storeroom was covered with cor
rugated iron, which resisted th'
flames. The tank of the fire sprink
ling system caught fire, and was de
stroyed, but steam was raised In th'
boiler. and the water kept running
The wires and cable OF the Eas
Tennessee Telephone company wer'
dstroyed by the fire. The loss viii
be about $500. Sparks set fire to tn
barge building plant of the Yves
Kentucky Coal company, but EN-
ployes with buckets quickly extln
guished the fire before it gaine'
headway.
Occupants of houses on Clement
street, west Of the burning buildin