The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-02-15
Blaze
to Spread
Flames Furious in Three Sec
tions of Building Hours
After Breaking Out
Cause Undetermined.
Three Fremen Injured

Fire in the Armour packing plant
n South Omaha. which started from
an unexplained cause early Wednes-
day morning. continued 70 burn with
even greater fury last night.
Concentration Of a ma Jority Of ths
citys fire-hghting forces was unable
to subdue the flames in the dry salt
and killing sections Of the north
building. known as Nos i, IS and 10.
Firemen are confident, however, tina.
the flames viii not spread TO ths
south building.
Zro weather added 10 the hardshipg
Of the flremen. Dense smoke and the
danger Of falling walls added confu-
sion TO the situation
At $50 last night firenen were lay
ing lines Of hose to turn on the lard
refinery adjoining the hog.kill on the
east. in an endeayor to check the
flames A firewal separates the two
buildings. II IS feared that il the lard
house catches afire the flames viii
get beyond control.
Assistant Chief ColIapses.
Assistant Fire Chief ". J. Dineer
collapsed shortly before 4 yesterday
afternoon and was taken TO the Ar
mour hospital. HI. leg was injured
when an explosion occurred.
Nike Belitz. captain OF company
No. 10. fell several feet and was
stunned John Bogacz, driver for No.
10. who was suffering from a slight
attack Of appendicitis. became worse
and was forced 10 retire.
Assistant Fire Chief John T. Coyis
said at / yesterday afternoon he be
lieyed the fire was fairly well under
control and that there was no danger
OF it spreading.
o. {. Willis. general manager OF the
Armour plant. said he could not make
even an approximate estimate OF the
loss. but that i might be between
81 600 900 and 81 sol. roo.
Covered by Insurance.
The amount Of insurance ructu-
ates with the amount OF products on
hand said Mr. Willis. This Is the
accumulating season. ard the ware
houses are pretty heavily stocked. I
imagine It IS rell covered by insu--
ance. however
The buildings ravaged hy the fire
contain fresh and dry sausage and
cured meats. The newer building 10
the south q the burning siructura
contains the beef and sheep kills.
sweet pickle factory ard smoked
meats.
Remove Products.
Thirty thousand pounds ot small
stuff were hauled from the latter
building and sent - the country Gus
tuners during the day. q which 10
600 pounds were traeked 70 Council
Hluffs and placed in Rock Island cars
The fire originated On the ninth
floor Of the sausa ge department and
spread rapidly % lower floors and
adjaning sections Of the building.
More than a score Of firemen es-
esper injury CT death by what seemed
a miracle at i. when the nine-story
brick wall at the southwest corner
ot section Nc. i ot The hog plant
crashed to the ground. revealing -
raging inferno within.
Mike Hernas Junior captain of com
panv No. q. was injured shortly after
noon while working n section l..
when he ran spike into his foot. He
was taken 10 Nicholas Sem hospital.
He lives al 2ssS South Seventeenth
street.
Captain Thomas Casey. overcome BY
smoke earlier u the day also WAS
taken 20 Nicholas Sem.
Four sections are involved in THE
fire The first two. = and is. arc FIVE
story brick buildings. used for cold
storage purposes. Ss. =. where the
fire started. IS a SIX story brick siruc-
turc with three decks. and was used
as a sausage factory. Nc. q Is three
story brick building and basement.
where the lard refinery Is located.
At first il was hoped 70 ceniine thu
F TIRE 10 sections 1s and -. where Q.
Vas discovered. but the intense hea Z
during the morning VAS slowly eating
F its way through thick FIRE wall into
section =. on the east end.
Water Tanks Frozen.
Commissioner Hopkins. who wa. O.,
F the scene of the fire n so yesterday
morning. accompanied several aren.cr
In the rouf 81 The building. They d.S-
covered the huge water tanks frOren-
rendering imperative the iaterior
trurn 60 rase Two. Column flysl