Ottumwa Daily Democrat

March 1, 1883 

THE FIRE.

The Ruffler Works Has a Close Call—The Foundry Partially Destroyed.

About 5:30 last evening the cry of fire was heard on the streets, and a moment afterwards the fire bell sounded the alarm.  Looking out the composing room of the DEMOCRAT, the flames could be distinctly seen bursting out the Ruffler Works.  A reporter was soon on the ground, and the fire was found to be in the new foundry of the Ruffler Co.  From the apparent headway the fire had made in the few brief moments between giving of the alarm and the arrival of the hose cart, it appeared as though the entire mammoth establishment was bound to vanish in ashes, but fortunately there is a hose house located near the foundry, and immediately on the discovery of the fire a number of employees and several citizens who chanced to be near secured the hose and quickly attaching it to the hydrant at corner of Main and Wapello streets, soon had a stream playing upon the building with excellent effect.  In a moment more Jim Judkins, came dashing up with the hose cart, and rapidly unwinding, another stream was put to work upon the flames and this began to tell upon the fire, which was subdued in a half hour after ignition.

The foundry is located just west of the main building, and was only erected last fall, the old casting room having become too small to accommodate the fast increasing business of this great industry.  In the building is located what is known as the “core furnace,” and it is thought this is where the fire originated, as about a half hour previous the men had taken off a “heat,” and it is supposed some of the timbers near the “core furnace” became so hot that it only required time for them to burst into flame.  In any event the fire spread with alarming rapidity and in a few moments the whole inside of the building was seething flame which licked its way rapidly to the cupola, and burst out so it could be seen for blocks.

The fire company never worked in such unison before that we remember of, and under the intelligent guidance of the chief and councilman, Rounds, did magnificent work, and the flames went down before the well directed streams in a manner which would have done credit to a Chicago or St. Louis fire department.

It soon became apparent that the iron roof of the building would for some time confine the fire to the foundry along, and acting on this hypothesis the firemen bolding entered the room surrounded on every side by scorching heat and fire, and commenced in magnificent shape to subdue the conflagration. 

First the hose was directed to the roof and walls, then to some burning debris on the floor, and in thirty minutes the whole thing was safe.  The fireman then turned their attention to the odd places where fired had caught in various parts of the room, and were masters of the situation.  The fire company are entitled to great credit for their well directed efforts and heroism on the occasion.

The water pressure was all that could be desired, and when one of the streams was directed from the upstairs of the Ruffler on the iron roof of the foundry, the sound as the water poured against the roof, was similar to that of a hurricane, and the men inside it seemed as though the stream came with such force as to penetrate the roof.  As it was the sash and glass in the cupola were swept away like chaff before the terrible force of the water.

In conversation with Mr. Hackworth and Albert Harrow, it was learned that while it would be impossible to give an accurate statement of the loss last night, yet they thought $4,000 would make it good, and this was amply covered by reliable insurance, $1,800 of which is in the Phoenix, of London, represented by Mr. Christie.

The brick walls of the foundry do not appear to have been injured seriously, and Mr. Hackworth said work would very probably go right along as they could us the old foundry room until the new one could be put in good condition again, which will probably be in about ten days.

There was not a great deal of machinery in the building, and what was destroyed can be replaced in a short time.  One of the most serious losses was a wooden engine pattern, which was burned, and which will require time and labor to reproduce.

One of the amusing incidents of the fire, was the drenching of the crowd on the opposite side of the street.  A large number of people, among them a great many ladies, completely lined the opposite sidewalk, interested spectators of what was going on. The firemen had occasion to turn the stream of water in that direction, and in a moment the whole outfit were drenched to the skin.  We have seen a woman making frantic endeavors to get away from a mouse, but the way in which the gentle sex vacated that sidewalk on this occasion was a spectacle which can be seen, but which would require the hand of genius to accurately describe.

There is no doubt but the prompt action of the firemen on this occasion prevented one of the most disastrous conflagrations that ever visited the city.

[transcribed by LZ, May 2020]