Damage in the neighborhood of $100,000 was sustained in a fire at the Rawleigh Medical company factory this morning, which broke out in the mill room located on the third floor at 8:40 o'clock. At the present time it is thought that spontaneous combustion was the cause. The large factory is divided into three divisions, each separated from the other by fire walls which extend from the north to the south side. Had it not been for these walls the loss would have been more than trebled.
Simon Ottenhausen, foreman of the mill room, was the first to discover the blaze. According to his theory one of the five large grinding mills became overheated and the oil in the drugs broke into a mass of flames. The fire spread rapidly and before the arrival of the fire department smoke was pouring from every window on the third floor.
Several Fire Fighters Injured
There was no panic among the 259 workers, many of whom were women, and in five minutes practically everyone was out of the building. The central fire department was first to arrive, but was followed closely by the Third ward apparatus. A second alarm brought out the West Freeport department and a third alarm brought out the Illinois Central fire fighting department of twenty men, who assisted the city department men materially.
Charles Groshans of the Third ward department, who was the first to scale a ladder with a hose, was partially overcome by smoke after an hour's work. Groshans exhibited much bravery and grit, and his work was one of the spectacular features of the blaze.
Fred Peters, employed at the factory, was one of the many workmen who did heroic work. Working bareheaded he was cut by falling glass and was taken to Dr. C. L. Best's office, where his wounds were dressed.
Spread to Fourth Floor
Hardly had the fire been got under control in the third floor when heavy smoke began to issue from the windows on the floor above. The fire on this floor was even harder to master and it was several hours work before the firemen left this floor. Meanwhile the fire and smoke worked its way to the roof and for a time it looked as though the entire middle section of the factory might be lost.
Raw material on the fourth floor burned fiercely and black smoke which issued from the windows in clouds made fire fighting extremely hazardous.
Loss Cannot Be Estimated Closely
The fire loss, although in the neighborhood of $100,000, cannot at the present time be accurately estimated. During the month of April the raw material stock is the heaviest of the entire year and officials of the factory place the value of this stock at the present time at more than $150, 000 on the fourth floor alone. It is possible that the damage there will be $75,000. Finished product valued at more than $20,000, was being stored on the middle section of the third floor. Part of this will be saved. The loss in the entire building will be heavy. Nine streams of water were used for more than two hours and water several inches deep stands on the first floor. Much plastering and redecorating will have to be done before even the office can be used.
Carried Own Insurance
The Rawleigh company carry their own insurance in the form of a general sinking fund, which, so it is said. is large enough to cover almost the entire loss. Officials of the company says it will take several days before the official loss can be estimated.
Lack of Fire Equipment
With the best of water pressure the city firemen had difficulty in reaching the heart of the blaze. Firemen were unable to enter the building and were forced to remain at or within a few feet of the windows so thick was the smoke. The city can boast of but one fire helmet and this was being used by a man at the bottom of one of the ladders. For more than an hour nine streams were playing thorough the windows and finally one hose was taken to the roof and used there. At 11 o'clock the fire was checked and work was started getting the damaged stock out of the building. The workmen on the third floor were handicapped by water, at least three feet deep in places. Shortly before the noon hour several officials of the factory made a hurried trip through the building and found their loss was not as heavy as they expected. Much of the $150,000 stock of raw material was not damaged and part of the $20,000 stock of finished product will be saleable. It was at first believed the loss might reach $200,000.
Part of Roof Falls With Crash
About 10:45 o'clock a part of the roof fell in, but there were no workmen on the upper floor at this time. The building and roof can be repaired for $20,000, it is said.
Rockford Department Not Needed
This morning when the fire was apparently gaining headway a call for assistance was sent to Rockford and the apparatus had already been loaded on a flat car when a second call was sent saying the fire was under control. It was planned to bring the Rockford equipment to this city on train No. 3 of the Illinois Central. Stephen Julian, assistant fire chief at Rockford, is in attendance at the consistory and was a spectator at the fire. He was in readiness to take command had the Rockford department been needed.
Rawleigh Arrives
Mayor Rawleigh was en route to Freeport when he was informed of the fire at his factory and he arrived in Freeport shortly after 11 o'clock.
