The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-02-17

Is Used to
!! r9!'aze Walls
y . Charges Fail to Topplc
Corner of Armour Hog Plant
That Is Menacing Fire
men Fighting Blaze.
Contractors Seek Men


Two explosions of dynamite be-
tween 500 and yesterday afternoon
at the base of the northeast corner
Of section II of what was once the
Armour hog plant in South Omaha
failed to raze the remaining angle of
the wall.
The explosive was set of with the
idea of weakening the foundation and
causing the wall, which is menacing
the safety of firemen in the vicinity.
to collapse, and 10 expose new por-
ton of the blazing embers to streams
from high pressure hose lines.
The fire had died down TO mass
Of smouldering ruins at that time.
but frenen continued to predict that
it will require several days entirely
to extinguish the blaze.
Resume Car Service.
Street car service was resumed over
afternoon.
Bulletin was posted late yesterday
at the Armour plant calling for 200
men TO start work this morning clear
ing away the debris from the fire.
blackened ruins. The bulletin, signed
by Wickham & Parks. contractors.
says that men formerly employed in
the Armour hog plant will be given
preference.
Assistant Fire Chief J. I. CoyIe
yesterday afternoon declared that
when the fire started, firemen were
dependent upon city water pressure
for the hose lines, and that the short
est line had to be run more than 500
feet TO the nearest fire plug.
Pressure is Decreased.
Tho longest line. he said. was close
to 2.0oe feet. tho length Of the hose
materially decreasing the pressure at
the nozzle.
o. {. Willis, general manager for
Armour & Co. here. declared yester-
day that lack OF pressure in the water
mains was largely responsible for de-
lay in checking the flames at the Ar.
mour fire which started Wednesday
morning. lie said this might be
tAf ~ oAN ~ III mains lfeId-
ing to South Omaha.
Two hundred men at noon yesterday
began the work of clearing away the
debris from about the fire.swept struc
ture I'm preparation for rebuilding on
erations.
The smoke. ker. close 20 the
ground by Light north wind. hamp-
cred the ffrr
their work. They say the black smoke
indicates the fire has reached a quan.
iity Of dressed hogs ip one Of the
lower stories.
First Detailed Estimate.
John O'HerD, superintendent of
packing plants. yesterday gave
out the first detailed estimate of
loss which has been made SO far.
lie places the damage 10 buildings
aud equipment at 10000 and the
loss Of products contained in the
buildings at s'50,o0o, or n total OF
nearly SI,,5O,O00.
He said that materiel already II
being assembled preparatory 10
plans for rebuilding the plant. II has
been definitely decided that all the
walls left standing when the fire
burns itself out will he torn down,
and new. modern flreproof build
ing erected on the site of the old
one. Assembly of the material Is
being made by the National Con.
struetion>rompany Of Omaha.
John oHern. superintendent of
packing plants said today he be.
lieves the loss on both building and
the products II contained ls fully
covered by insurance.
a. " Armour vice. president of
the company. left for Chicago last
night 10 lay reconstruction plans be.
fore the board Of directorss lie de-
elined to make comment on the
water pressure. lie said that no def.
mite plans for rebuilding could be an
nounced until after action By the
board