Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-13
FIRE WIPED OUT
RI. FRE|GHT
THIS MORNING
Spark From An Engine
Falling On Inhammable
Material Caused Damage
Amounting to $4,000.
WATER SERVICE WAS
POOR AT THE START

Agent Finesey and Aids Re
move Explosives From
Fire Zone and Greater
Damage Was Prevented
J. A spark presumably from the switch
lEengine used about the freight yard
falling on heap of banana crates and
sother inflammable material in the east
Yend Of the Rock Island freight house
kthis morning about 1880 o'clock
nstarted fire which before it could be
Aextinguished. had destroyed the build
Ning and freight to the approximate
value Of $4,000.
! Temporary quarters will be secured
as soon as possible to accommodate
the large freight business Of the Rock
Island, and already some firms have
rendered their assistance to the road
in giving them room for the freight.
The first of these was Edwin H. Emery
of the wholesale fruit house that bears
his name. The Baker building at. the
foot Of Green street is also being con-
sidered.
The fire when discovered by Fore
man George Crockett and w. J. Bly,
stone, transfer man, was seen issu-
Aing from the east end of the building
(which covered more than 100 feet from
ture. Immediately with the turning in
<1P oIo li,aor h An To- 10 An,
an effort to remove the freight from
the danger that threatened the build
ing and ccFtents. Upon the arrival of
the fire department ran unlocked for
trouble arose through the inability to
secure water from the mains. This was
due to the work Of replacing the small
mains with the larger variety along
Main street from Jefferson street to
Iowa avenue. Several minutes were
lost in waiting for the stream of water.
In the meantime the tiremen worked
with zest in the playing of the chem.
ical over the burning structure.
Remove Explosives.
The construction of the building and
Its dry and inflammable condition made
1t an easy prey to the flames which
gained steadily until the water pres
sure responded to the effort of the de-
partment and effective work began to
tell. This was not, however, until
half OF the building was doomed and
little beyond the prevention of the
spread Of the fire could be done.
Small explosions due to cans OF oil
and other inflammables in the freight
house, added to the excitement and
for time frightened some of the peo-
pie standing about the building. The
real danger from this source, however,
had been removed when the employees
of the freight house headed by Agent
J. G. Finesey carried out boxes OF
dynamite and other explosives that
had been unloaded during the morn
ing. These were brought put of the
fire zone at the first sign of the spread
OF the blaze. When the fire was frst'l
seen by Foreman Crockett. the gang Of
employees were engaged across the
tracks transferring freight to and
from the cars and the platforms.
Move Cars From Fire Zone.
The knowledge Of the presence of a
solid car Of new automobiles led Agent
Ffnesey to bend his efforts to get this
car moved away and after removing
the dynamite out Of the fire region,
the car OF automobiles were other cars
were shunted away from the freight
house. This was not too soon, for
despite their haste to save the cars,
the fire was even quicker and six cars
were totally destroyed or in part be-
fore they we're moved. The appear
ance presented by the ruined struc-
ture is that Of q complete wreck. The
fore part or what was used formerly
for an Office, still remains intact with
q portion Of the main building The
other end Of the building is, however,
q total wreck and most of it is burned
to the ground. The platform at the !,
east end of the structure met the same
fate as that end of the freight house !
and is mass of charred ruins. The
ecorched and charred cars that were
damaged by the fire included a car OF
ccal which was burning slowly for a |
time before discovered. The damage |
to the cars was made possible because !
OF the tracks having lined up for the |
days business and the house was well |
filled with freight from several of the
local jobbing houses. among those was
some from w. T. Hall & Co., which |
firm had Just unloaded $50 cases OF
chocolates for shipment.
May Build Structure.
Plans were drafted and it was ar
ranged to build a new freight depot !
more than a a'year ago. but for some /
unknown reason after the plans had |
been submitted to local contractors,
they were recalled and the building |
left in promissory state ever since. |
It is probable now, the plans formerly
adopted may be again given the con-
traitors fer the b',ildiua OF the new]
freight SSus>