The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1919-12-12
BIG FIGURING MILL IS
TOTALLY DESTROYED BY
FIRE TUESDAY EVENING
MILL OF COLUMBIA MILL G. ELE.
vATOR COMPANY is BURN
ED TO THE GROUND.
A MOST SPECTACULAR BLAZE
Loss Is Estimated at $685. oo-Hun-
dreds of Spectators Stand in Drench-
ing Rain to See Firemen Wage IN
even Fight Against Flames.

One of the most spectacular fires in
the history of Columbia Monday night
totally destroyed the mill of the Colum-
bia Mill & Elevator Company, owned
principally by w. A. Dale and r. l.,
Mckinney and located on the l.. & N.
railroad just outside the corporate
limits Of the city.
The blaze was discovered shortly
after five o'clock, and a general alarm
promptly sounded. Before fremen
could reach the scene, flames We're
bursting from the windows, and it
then became evident that the building
was doomed, and fremen devoted
their attention to saving the immense
grain elevators, Office fixtures and
books of the concern. In this effort
they were successful.
The exact origin of the fire is I'M
determined, however, one of the most
plausible theories advanced is that
it started from hot box in the shaft
ing on the second floor, where the
fire was first discovered.
News Spreads Quickly.
News of the fire quickly spread, and
scores of automobiles laden to the
running boards with passengers sped
to the scene and hundreds of specta-
tors stood in drenching rain, and
facing driving north wind, watched
the flames mount upward. The skies
were aglow for miles around, and for
several blocks it was almost as light
as day, Sparks driven by the wind,
fell for blocks around despite the
downpour of rain and had
the buildings not been thor
oughly soaked after an all day
rain, the fire undoubtedly would have
spread to these buildings. While the
fire was at its heighth a switch engine
removed from the side track cars OF
flour and one car of coal, fuel for the
mill.
A short time after the cars had been
removed to d place of safety the
walls fell with crash that could be
heard for blocks. AS the building
burned volunteers removed the office
furniture, books, etc, from the office
to nearby warehouse.
Although the firemen were handi-
capped at the first of the fight because
of an inadequate water supply, con
nection was finally made with a plug
just inside. the corporation, and most
effectively did the firemen work to
save the building which connects the
elevators with the mill.
Loss Is Heavy One.
Mr.. Mckinney estimates the total
loss at $4,000, with insurance in the
amount Of approximately $45,500, di-
vided as follows Loss on mill, build
ing and power house $4,000, with
S43, 500 insurance and loss on the
stock $4,000 with insurance to the
amount OF $4,000. Stored in the near
by elevator, which was saved, was APP
prcximately 100000 worth of grain,
partly the property of the mill, and
partly owned by the farmers of the
county who had it stored there.
The mill had only recently celebrat-
ed its thirtieth anniversary, having
been built with a capacity of 800 bar
rels of -four per day, but it had been
enlarged to capacity Of 500 barrels
daily. and furnished employment to
about thirty men,
Mr.. Mckinney says the plant will be
rebuilt with greatly enlarged ca
pacity, and that the new plant will be
thoroughly modern in every particu-