FLOUR MILL AT BISMARCK TOTALLY
DESTROYED BY FIRE LAST SATURDAY NIGHT |
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FLOUR MILL AT BISMARCK TOTALLY
DESTROYED BY FIRE LAST SATURDAY NIGHT |
|
One of the most destructive fires of recent years, within the bounds of St. Francois county, occurred at Bismarck Saturday night when the flouring mill at the place went up in smoke.
The fire broke out in the elevator, about 8:30 o'clock, and is attributed to spontaneous combustion. The flames rapidly spread to other parts of the building, making it impossible to remove any of the contents, other than a few hundred pounds of flour. The facilities for fighting fire in Bismarck are so inadequate, that the buildings were doomed from the beginning.
The elevator contained 8000 bushels of wheat. Several hundred bushels had been put in on Saturday. A car load of wheat standing on the track by the side of the elevator was saved by being pushed down the track, and out of range of the fire. The car had caught fire, but was easily extinguished. All machinery and other equipment was a total loss. A quantity of mill feed and corn was also destroyed.
The freight depot of the Iron Mountain Railway, located a few hundred feet from the burning buildings, was saved with difficulty.
The pyramid of wheat burned for several days. About noon, Sunday, a wind-storm swept over Bismarck, carrying fire with it from the burning wheat. Two or three residences on the east side of the Iron Mountain tracks caught fire from these flying cinders. The residents of this section of town were on the look out for this very thing, and quickly extinguished the fire.
The flour mill at Bismarck was owned by a corporation of men, some of them living in Bismarck, and others at other points in Southeast Missouri. The concern was known as the Bismarck Milling and Manufacturing Company and had been operating under the management of Frank DeGuire.
For some time this mill had not been in operation, but had retailed flour and feed which had been shipped in from other mills. Preparation was almost complete for the resumption of operations, it having been the plan of the company to operate full time.
The loss was partly covered by insurance. We did not learn as to whether the company will rebuild.
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