The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-29
BIG SANTAFEL LOSS
Half Million Dollars Worth
Of Cars Destroyed.
Fire Starts in the Topeka StOr-
age Yards.
FIGHT is A HARD ONE.
light is A HARD ONE.
Seven Hundred Cars Burned Be-
fore Flames Are Checked.
Regiment of Men Help to Pre-
vent Spread of Fire.

Famed by a southerly wind a small
blaze which started in a box car half
a mile below the lower Santa Fe
shops, probably through the careless
ness of some one who had sought
shelter from the outside chill, spread
until hundreds of ''empties'' had
gone up in smoke.
The damage is variously estimated
at from 100000 to 100000, and is
partially covered by insurance.
''It would be impossible to give an
estimate as to the property loss" said
William Collinson, assistant to the
general manager. There were so
many kinds of cars consumed in va
rious conditions that it would be hard
to know just how to begin figuring,
and then We do not know at this time
the exact number of cars which were
burned The average box car when
new costs $1,000"
No one seems to know at precisely
what time the fire began, but by nine
O'Clock a motley gang of scores of
men and boys was on the job of fire
fighting. A breastwork of earth was
thrown up on the north side of the
tracks to prevent the fire from spread
ing through a cornfield and endang-
ering both life and property.
The tools used consisted of any man
ner of implement which could be had
in hurry. There were farmers,
Mexicans, shop men and boys work
ing for dear life, and they accomplish
ed their purpose.
The flames spread rapidly towards the
east, and before the line of cars on
five tracks could be broken loose from
the burning empties they had Travelled
half a mile.
Over 600 Cars Burned.
"My estimate @vould be-" said John
Purcell, general manager of the great
shops, that between six and seven
hundred cars have burned. Although
we do not know definitely. we believe
| lessness of some person or persons who
sought shelter in one of the cars. We
believe that we have clue"
At 10:40 o'clock an engine dashed
down the main line with a water tank,
and as a gang of several hundred men
had already pushed the cars ahead of
the flames down the line, the con-
| fagration was checked.
For While it looked as though the
fire was almost beyond control. and
that it would go at rapid speed through
| the adjoining corn field, sped along on
| it's course of devastation by a stiff
| breeze.
People Were Excited.
There was great excitement among
=, the dwellers in the vicinity, and there
was much rejoicing on their part when
| it was seen that the fire would be prac-
|
| it was it broke out time after time
in the field. but by valiant work was
| extinguished in each case.
W. w. Snead had charge of a large
gang of fire fighters, and Gus Millel
was one of his assistants. John Pur-
cell arrived on the scene of action al
| about 9:45 o'clock, and gave orders tt
the workers
Although the heat was intense a1ons
the main line, Santa Fe passenger train
No. 13 was allowed to pass at a SLOW
pace.
Hundreds of people from the adjoin
ing farming district, and those hailins
from Topeka were onlookers. Small
boys were there in numbers uncoun
table.
All that is now left of what was
half mile of cars is the steel franz
work and the trucks.
No effort was made to put out tn
flames as the fire spread down the lin
as no amount of energy would hav
| been of avail.