Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-21
ORIGINATES IN REPAIR SHOP
Flames Spread to Stock Yards, Entail.
ing a Loss of $4,000.
MANY STREAMS PLAY ON FRI
Fifteen Thousand Spectators Gather
Around Burning Buildings.
OMAHA CALLED UPON FOR HELP
Combined Forces of cities and Az
fected Companies Art Put Forth to
subdue Fierce Flames in
stock Yards District.

FIRE originating IN the car building and
repair shops of the Cudahy Packing com
| pany yesterday at 1880 p. m, caused a
loss of Sl5OOOo to the Cudahy property, and
less than 5000 to the Union Stock Yards
The loss is fully covered by insurance.
| In the Cudahy plant the departments
| destroyed or damaged by the flames
embraced an area of S75x15O feet The
car shop is a total loss as is also the
| lumber and supply yards. Two storage
! rooms and the car icing shed were partially
| destroyed. 1t could not be determined yes
| terday whether or not the machine shops
! would be toSal or a partial loss. The
| building is fire proof, but the machines
were said to have been seriously damaged.
in the Union Stock Yards the flames were
/ confined to a small area of yardage, in
cluding four hogs sheds. The stock yards,
| 1t is understood, will suffer loss not much
in excess of 5000 or 1900.
| The origin of the fire is in doubt It is
thought probable by the officials OF the
plant that waste pile may have COM
| busted spontaneously.
| 1t was generally admitted, however, that
| the fire had started In the vicinity of the
car repair sheds about 1890 o'clock. Almos,
Immediately after the alarm the fire haq
spread into a solid sheet of flames that
| Stul up NOlullltb VI ncdNy DldCh StlOkf
Like fiery tongues OF monster serpents the
flames leaped from building to building
and from shed TO shed, surgIng up mo &.
mighty wall Of heat that seemed to defy
the efforts OF the fire fighters.
The wind at the time was blowing forty
miles and hour, and coming from the
south. swept the flames in the direction
Of the new $4,000 sheep barns Of the Union
Stock Yards. For a ftw minutes it ap-
peared as IL the fire would sweep the
whole stock yards district notwithstanding
| the united efforts of the city fire depart
| ment and the firemen of the different
packing plants,
| Under the personal direction OF Fire
Chief McKale the firemen turned their
efforts towards keeping the flames within
| the open area south of the stock, yards.
Jack Walters, superintendent of the yards,
had his men organized and working like
veterans. Twenty streams of water were
| turned on the new barns and the sur
rounding pens and the fight was kept up
until the wind veered to the east.
over on the Cudahy side steady stream
| of water was kept upon the main build
ings and at one time twenty streams were
pouring into the furnace-like area of fire
The water came from the Cudahy well
| INC SeCOHu ldTBoAl III In6 bIdIe anu LneTe
! was at all times a steady pressure of ninty
pounds, which the united packing COM
panies helped to distribute through their
pumps.
General Manager NJ. Murphy and Super.
intendent Pat Sheahey, took personal con.
troll of the situation Immediately aftai
their arrival on the scene. BY the super
intendent's orders a second relief whistle
was blown and three companies from
Omaha under the direction OF Assistant
Chief Simpson responded. The fire, how
ever, was under control, when they ar
rived and Chief Simpson stationed hii
men at different points, where they as
sisted in protecting the surrounding build
ings.
| Thousands of Spectators.
While the fire was at it's hight full,
1900 people were gathered on the roof
of the buildings in the stock yards. Tn,
scene presented was spectacular in tn,
extreme and reminded one OF a vast arena
where the firemen and the flames played
the parts of the gladiators.
The crowds increased. Chief Briggs ant
Detective Sheahan fearful of an acciden
ordered them 10 leave the roofs. The orde
was only accomplished after Superintendent
water on the buildings nearest the fire.
Among the firemen no injuries were re
corded. though the flames made the atmos
phere sitting. Superintendent Sheahey o
the Cuhady plant. while directing the worl
of his men, was struck in the forehead b!
a flying bolt, which caused a painful
! wound He could not be induced to for
sake his work, and he remained at hi
post until the fire had subsided.
Speaking OF the fire General Manage
Murphy Of the Cudahy plant approximate,
the loss at S15O,OOO. This did not incIud
. the machine shops, which he though
; would not be damaged to a great extent
, lie said, however. that IL the machiner,
proved TO be a wreck the damage woul.
: so up to S20OO 600.
The stock yards officials could not a
: the time give an approximation Of thei
loss. Col. J. c. Sharp said he did not thinl
: it would amount 10 very much and tn
general opinion was that the damage couI,
be covered by $4,000 The stock yards OF
ficlals were delighted by the successfu
manner in which the fire departments o
the city and the yards protected the ney
$4,000 sheep barns. 1t was also a sourc
of congratulation among the Cudahy me
!, to find that the water pressure held out
] y
5 pressed himself as delighted with the wa
the big Cudahy pump worked.
= strange Coincidence.
Y A peculiar coincidence occurred when an
e other fire started in the stock yards dis
e trict at Thirty-third and l. streets Will
e the first was still burning. This make
. the third time within a week that III
stock yards and packing house district he
been visited by fire. Last Wednesda
night the L street viaduct, owned by III
} Union stock yards. was damaged to th
5. extent Of $1,000. Thursday night some fee
r. pens In the stock yards were damaged Sc,
a eral hundred dollars. Colonel ]. G. shAr
=, OF the stock yards. in speaking Of II
" three fires considered them coincidenc,
d merely and attached no importance 10 II
.e rumoT OF incsndiarism. We have no qua
d rel with any one" said Colonel shar
u "and II there Is such work going on
cOuid originate with no one other than