The Detroit times., 1912-07-02
REBUILDING PLANS ARE
DISCUSSED BY DETROIT
SEAMLESS STEEL TUBE CO.
Big Plant Destroyed by Fire
With Loss of 100000 Will
Rise From Ashes
400 MEN ARE OUT OF WORK
Lives of Firemen and Spectators
Endangered by Explosions
While Flames Rage
90 MEN ARE OUT OF WORK

Four hundred men were thrown ou,
OF work, Monday afternoon, by the
burning Of the plant of the Detroit
Seamless Steel Tubes Co., West JEFF
ferson-ave. and Twenty.htst-st. and
the loss on the buildings, covering an
acre and half, together withithe de-
stroyed contents is estimated at $500,
000 The insurance Is somewhat more
than half the loss.
Talk or rebuilding the plant began
almost before the flames had been
brought under control, and a meeting
OF the directors was hurriedly ar
ranged for Tuesday in the Offices OF
the Mcmillan estate, in the Union
Trust building, TO canvass the situa
tion and discuss plans for the future
p. IA. Mcmillan Is president of the
concern; George NJ. Black. treasurer
-L-R.- Coulter secretary. and T. II
Simpson, vice-president and general
manager
Discovered first in the big fly wheel
in the engine room. the fire was one
OF the most spectacular ever seen in
Detroit. 1t is supposed that a spark
from a passing locomotive lodged in
the roof above the 20-foot wheel and
that the fire was quickly communicat.
ed from the roof to the revolving
wheel from which II was scattered in
every direction. Almost before the
alarm could be turned in the plant
was in flames from end to end. Work
men dropped their tools and ran for
their lives and before the first en-
gines OF the fire department arrived
the roof fell In.
Explosions of oil, kerosene and gas.
oline constantly endangered the lives
of iremen and spectators, and fire.
quently groundless reports were circu-
lated that workmen were missing or
that firemen had been injured. 1t took
a large force of policemen to control
the crowds OF spectators and keep
them out OF danger, this work being
directed by Capt. James Sprott, of the
Scotten-ave. station.
A high wind helped 10 spread the
flames through the oil-soaked timbers
OF the building and in less than two
hours nothing was left but blackened
NdhS, tNioNVh SttOl OCdlHS anu lud
chinery.
The southeast part OF the plant was
burned last February, and the Detroit
Bridge & steel Co., which was rebuild
ing the burned structure, was Just
completing its work when Mondays
fire undid the efforts OF several
months. The rebuilt building he'd no,
yet been turned over TO the owners
and the loss OF the Detroit Bridge q
Steel Co. Is estimated at $4,000, or
which there was no insurance.
Several freight cars standing on the
side tracks OF the burned plant were
hauled to safety but II was reported
that four cars inside the plant were
destroyed.
The fire gained headway so quickly
that little could be done by the fire
men except TO try to checkit and keer
II from spreading TO adjoining proper
ties. Two companies of firemen were
kept on guard at the Detroit CITY Gas
ccmpanys works until the flames
were controlled and at times the ga.
plant was considered TO be In serious
danger.
Sparks few to the yard of the
Cronin Coal Co but the fire wa.
checked there before the loss haC
reached s25.
Several narrow escapes from injury
we're reported but no -workmen. FIRE
men or spectators were seriously hurt