堪萨斯城的包装屋大火。

堪萨斯城的包装屋大火。

这似乎是一个自相矛盾的词写的a fire that could not be properly handled because of a superfluity of water on the one hand and a scarcity of water on the other. But such was the case at Kansas City, Kan., on June 12, when the packing plant of the Morris Nelson company was damaged some $225,000 worth by an early morning blaze. And just as dirt is matter in the wrong place so a flood is water wrongly distributed. The Kaw river was a raging stream, and the height of its waters hindered not only the local apparatus from getting on the scene, but, also, those of Missouri and Kansas City, Mo., from being able to render any assistance. Chief McNarrey, therefore, and his men had to do the best they could under the conditions that faced them—those of walking over on the “highline,” a railway track built on piling and above the water, standing up to the waist in water, on walls partially blown down by an explosion and tottering after its effects, and using, not their own firefighting material, but such equipment as the packinghouse company could furnish. The plant,, which is one of the most complete in the United States, was built three years and one-half ago, and last January was damaged by fire to the extent of $750,000. The loss of meat in the recent fire was also very great, as the coolers were packed to their capacity, tile flood having interfered with railway traffic long before the water shut down the plant. Three and a half years ago the plant was valued at $2,225,000, of which the buildings represented $1,245,000. The daily slaughtering capacity of the plant was 1,500 cattle. 2.000 sheep and 3,000 hogs. The refrigerating capacity was 5.000 cattle, 2.000 sheep and 10,000 hogs. The fire started before davlight from an explosion in the dry salt cellar, and was not controled till nearlv noon Notwithstanding the difficulties Chief McNarrey and his men had to contend against and the rapid spread of the flames, which had it all their own way because of the inability of the department to reach them, the fierce blaze was confined to the cold storage building and the smokehouses, with their contents, all which were destroyed. Two laborers were killed and another man was, perhaps, fatallv injured Chief McNarrey and two firemen were also severely hurt. An explosion of sewer gas, forced out by the flood, resulted when an employe in one of the cold storage departments lighted a match. This was followed by another and much more serious explosion, caused by the igniting of a quantity of ammonia, and the stubborn fire started. The two employes killed died instantly. The two others were so badly cut up that their lives were despaired of. The sausage department was the first to go. The contents of this building furnished much inflammable material for the flames, and, when the first stream could be turned upon the fire, this section of the plant was doomed. The plant is situated near the Riverside section on a fork of the Kaw river, in the east central part of the city, just north of the stockyards on a low-lying ground. The buildings, which were not sprinklered, were of brick, steel, cement and wood and were 5-story'. When the firemen arrived, they could not get men enough to operate with their apparatus, the flood being so high. They found the building blown down, and the walls on which they had to take up their position undermined, tottering and covered waist-deep with water. Slowly but surely Chief McNarrey and his men climbed up the high-line and along the tracks. They could not carry their own firefighting tools with them and had to depend altogether upon such material as the company had on hand. While water abounded all round them, at first they could make use of only one 4-in. hydrant, which threw only the one stream; but they managed to rig up 2>i-in. cotton hose enough (of which one 50-ft. section burned) to supply five or six more. They had no improved nozzles, only Jtj-m. There was no street frontage; but the plant was supplied frem a 10-in. main and, .as the service-pipes bad been blown down with the building at the time of the explosion, there was at first a most inadequate supply of water. By means of the company’s pumps, however, that defect was remedied, and it became possible to throw the six or seven streams already referred to. During the course of the fire Chief McNarrey received bad bruises from a fall, and two or three of the firemen fared equally badly. Altogether the experiences of the fire department of the city were unique and added instructive matter in that line for the benefit of the firefighters of the future.

这似乎是一个自相矛盾的词写的a fire that could not be properly handled because of a superfluity of water on the one hand and a scarcity of water on the other. But such was the case at Kansas City, Kan., on June 12, when the packing plant of the Morris Nelson company was damaged some $225,000 worth by an early morning blaze. And just as dirt is matter in the wrong place so a flood is water wrongly distributed. The Kaw river was a raging stream, and the height of its waters hindered not only the local apparatus from getting on the scene, but, also, those of Missouri and Kansas City, Mo., from being able to render any assistance. Chief McNarrey, therefore, and his men had to do the best they could under the conditions that faced them—those of walking over on the “highline,” a railway track built on piling and above the water, standing up to the waist in water, on walls partially blown down by an explosion and tottering after its effects, and using, not their own firefighting material, but such equipment as the packinghouse company could furnish. The plant,, which is one of the most complete in the United States, was built three years and one-half ago, and last January was damaged by fire to the extent of $750,000. The loss of meat in the recent fire was also very great, as the coolers were packed to their capacity, tile flood having interfered with railway traffic long before the water shut down the plant. Three and a half years ago the plant was valued at $2,225,000, of which the buildings represented $1,245,000. The daily slaughtering capacity of the plant was 1,500 cattle. 2.000 sheep and 3,000 hogs. The refrigerating capacity was 5.000 cattle, 2.000 sheep and 10,000 hogs. The fire started before davlight from an explosion in the dry salt cellar, and was not controled till nearlv noon Notwithstanding the difficulties Chief McNarrey and his men had to contend against and the rapid spread of the flames, which had it all their own way because of the inability of the department to reach them, the fierce blaze was confined to the cold storage building and the smokehouses, with their contents, all which were destroyed. Two laborers were killed and another man was, perhaps, fatallv injured Chief McNarrey and two firemen were also severely hurt. An explosion of sewer gas, forced out by the flood, resulted when an employe in one of the cold storage departments lighted a match. This was followed by another and much more serious explosion, caused by the igniting of a quantity of ammonia, and the stubborn fire started. The two employes killed died instantly. The two others were so badly cut up that their lives were despaired of. The sausage department was the first to go. The contents of this building furnished much inflammable material for the flames, and, when the first stream could be turned upon the fire, this section of the plant was doomed. The plant is situated near the Riverside section on a fork of the Kaw river, in the east central part of the city, just north of the stockyards on a low-lying ground. The buildings, which were not sprinklered, were of brick, steel, cement and wood and were 5-story'. When the firemen arrived, they could not get men enough to operate with their apparatus, the flood being so high. They found the building blown down, and the walls on which they had to take up their position undermined, tottering and covered waist-deep with water. Slowly but surely Chief McNarrey and his men climbed up the high-line and along the tracks. They could not carry their own firefighting tools with them and had to depend altogether upon such material as the company had on hand. While water abounded all round them, at first they could make use of only one 4-in. hydrant, which threw only the one stream; but they managed to rig up 2>i-in. cotton hose enough (of which one 50-ft. section burned) to supply five or six more. They had no improved nozzles, only Jtj-m. There was no street frontage; but the plant was supplied frem a 10-in. main and, .as the service-pipes bad been blown down with the building at the time of the explosion, there was at first a most inadequate supply of water. By means of the company’s pumps, however, that defect was remedied, and it became possible to throw the six or seven streams already referred to. During the course of the fire Chief McNarrey received bad bruises from a fall, and two or three of the firemen fared equally badly. Altogether the experiences of the fire department of the city were unique and added instructive matter in that line for the benefit of the firefighters of the future.