Suspicious Fire at Standard Oil Plant

Three valuable draft horses were burned to death last Thursday night when the stable of the Standard Oil company, in the east part of town, was completely destroyed by fire. Two of the horses were burned to death in their stalls and the third, which escaped from the flames after his halter had been burned off, was so badly burned that he had to be shot. The fire, which was discovered about 11 o’clock, was of unknown origin and the circumstances point strongly to incendiarism. The stable, which was part of the company’s distributing station, was located inside an eight-foot board fence surmounted with four strands of barbed wire. The gates to this enclosure are kept locked at all times when Manager Murray or other employees are not at the station. Mr. Murray is certain that all gates were locked when he left the station Thursday evening, but when the fire department arrived one of the gates was open and later investigation indicates that the lock had been forced. A strong wind was blowing at the time and had it not been for the fire-proof construction of the big tanks and the case-oil warehouse, total destruction of the plant would undoubtedly have resulted. The nearest fire hydrant is at the flour mill and to bring water to the fire it was necessary to hurry both uptown hose carts to the scene. Even after one line of hose was brought into action, the department was greatly handicapped in their efforts as it was impossible to break through the corrugated iron sides and roof of the burning building. The most the fighters could do was to keep the fire under control and let it burn itself out.