East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-02-18
Early Morning Blaze of Un-
known Origin Completely
DiSmantIeS Ice Plant; Butter
Making Machinery Escaped.
NEW PLANT WILL BE
BUILT IMMEDIATELY Y
Rebuilding Will Start as Soon
as Fire Adjustments Are
Made, Announces Owners;
Fire Was Troublesome One.

Smythe Lonergan Co. this morning
suffered a loss. estimated at from Sg0,-
goo to $4,000 in the destruction bv
fire of their ice plant, ice cream fac
tory. storage facilities and creamery,
located on Main street, south of the
Q. W-.R. & n railroad tracks. The
butter making machinery was saved
through work Of the fire department
and all records and accounts in the Of
fiee were also rescued. The owners
made arrangements at once to handle
their coal. ice and butter business
without interruption.
The blaze was reported shortly be-
fore O'Clock this morning from box
25. AT that time the entire roof was
ablaze and hundreds who looked OUT
IN the cold morning air. saw the
flames illuminating the skies The
fire department got several lines 20
the burning building in quick time
and in few miutes had the fire under
control, saving all of the four walls
OF the big warehouse.
Flames Had Good start.
The flames had obtained start
within the building, however that
gutted fost Of the Interior. The ice
cream plant was ruined BY the fire
and water. the ice making machinery
and all of the ammonia were lost,
Several tons Of meat in cold storage
was damaged and the offices, at the
front Of the building, We're badly
charred.
, temporary shutdown Of the but
ter making plant followed the fire but
examination showed that the machine
cry was unhurt and within couple of
hours the plant was at work turning
out its product as usual A large
amount Of butter on hand was ruined
in the fire.
To Fire Chief Ringold and his men
Dan Smythe. one of the owners OF the
business. gives credit for saving the
building from entire loss. The extreme
spld this morning. the headway gain
"a by the fire and the troublesome
ammonia from the ice making plant
Ill contrived to make fire fighting diff
iicult The department saved the
plant of the Pacific Fruit & Produce
Co., adjoining. and other buildings in
he vicinity.
Origin of Blaze Unknown.
No definite idea as to the origin OF
he fire is held BY Mr.. Smythe nor en-
lloyes of the concern. There was no
maintained by the COM
'any and ascertaining the cause OF the
blaze will probably rest with insurance
ldiusters. The business was fully in
ured.
Books, accounts, records and money
Sept nthe office were all saved BY
employees who reached the scene
'hortly after the alarm was sounded.
offices for the creamery
viii be maintained in the Pacific Fruit
( Produce Co. plant, while the wood
md coal department will have offices
n the building adjoining the Bur-
'oughs woodward at Main and TS1stin.
Some Of the products In cold stor-
lge, undamaged, will be salvaged, 1t is
believed About 40 tons of ice, un-
by the heat of the fire. We're
AIKEN from the building this morning.
Deliveries of ice, coal. wood and but
er were continued as though nothing
lad happened.
~ Company Will Rebuild.
s''As SOON as insurance adjusters
iave completed their work. we shall
,egin rebuilding. AIr Smythe said
While overlooking the ruins this morn
ng, we hope to be ready for the
summer trade with brand new. mod
'rn plant. In the meantime We shall
handle all our former trade. An ice
'ream plant will be fitted up as soon
IS possible and ice will be obtained
oclily for distribution
The plant which burned today Is
me of Pendleton's oldest factories and
Ias changed hands anHmber OF times.
It has been owned by the smythe Lon
,rgan Co, since 1918. The coal, wood
md coal storage business has been
'arried on under the firm name OF
Smythe Lonergan Co.. while the but.
he name Of Gclen West ceamey. dfr
er and led cream business is under thu
lame Of Golden West creamery. Re-
'ent additions and Improvements were
made to the creamery business.
Prior to- its passing into the present
'ands the business was operated Tor
several years by Koplttke & Gnland.
RS