Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-10-27
PETROLATUN FIRE
COSTS $4,000
PLOUGH CHEMICAL COMPANY,s
STORAGE PLANT BURNS.
WILL NOT HINDER OPERATION
property at South Fifth Street and
Railroad Said to Have Been To-
nlted by Spark From Passing
Train-Traffic Delayed.

Memphis.-Firemen battled for NOR.
than three hours before they had put
under control a blazing warehouse O,
the Plough Chemical company. South
Fifth street and the railroad tracks
ne loss was estimated by Abe Plough
president OF the company, at 1926, 900
lie was unable to give the amount OF
insurance.
Barrels OF petrolatum piled 20 feet
nigh, we're burning f~iercely when the
IRE fighting equipment reached the
scene. Flames were shooting upward
more than 100 feet. From a distance
the scene resembled a gasser on fire.
Petroleum is a substance derived
from petroleum by distilling off the
nghter portions. 1t s used as a sub.
Stance Tor iatty materials in ointment.
1t is used largely in the chemical
trade.
Adjoining properties were menaced
and their salvation doubtless was due
to the stiffness of the afternoon. There
was little breeze and the blaze spurted
straight toward the sky.
Eight p.eces of fire equipment re-
sponded. The warehouse Is difficult
to reach only one narrow street lead.
ing up to it. 1t S fronted on the south
by the railroad tracks.
Mr.. Plough said the fire or ginated
from sparks CARED from a passing
locomotive.
The warehouse, which adio.ns a
three-story brick printing plant, also
operated by the Plough Chemic al com.
pany, is of metal construction and the
galvanized sides OF the structure han.
dicapped the efforts of the firemen.
They used axes and crowbars to tear
away the siding sufficient to afford
a%pertures for the hose.
The barrels of petroleum., about
three or four carloads, burned stub
bornly. Four lines of hose were played
the petroleum., but the flames
would squirt forth again the moment
stream and smoke cleared.
With long graphing poles the fire.
men attempted to ~unloosen the barrels
and succeeded in pulling out probably
30, rolling them into a zone of safety.
The entire contents of the ware.
houses were laid in waste, or left as
watcr-soaked debris. There were
BOXES. barrels and metal cans con-
the crude products used 5y
the company in the manufacture OF
Its goods.
Railroad traffic was delayed for al.
II ost two hours. Hose was strewn
over the trackage for half a block.
The n, c, & st. l.. passenger tram,
due at Union Station at $3.50 o'clock,
had just passed, inbound from Nash
vile when the fire was discovered.
A passenger train from Louisville
due here at 3:45 o'clock was forced
to come to a halt east of the fire.
Probably a dozen passengers left the
and walked to the nearest troll.
ley car line. II was about $50 o'clock
when the train was switched to an
track and succeeded in reach
Ing the depot.
i should judge the loss will be
around $125,000,' said Mr.. Plough.
who was called to the scene by telC-
'none. Il don't recall how much ia
we carried on the warehouse.
I contained only crude products.
Mostly petrolatum and wax.
The destruction of the warehouse
viii not close down any of our
operations. We have more .
products en- route and a large !
quantity in storage at our New York
warehouse, We will rebuild the ware