Oregon City, OR Paper Mill Fire, Aug 1901

Fire At Two Paper Mills

Oregon City Warehouses And Contents Destroyed.

Loss Is Between $10,000 and $15,000-Fire Hose Broke at a Critical Time.

Oregon City, Aug. 20.-Fire broke out at 2:30 o’clock this afternoon in the storeroom of the Crown Paper Company. Water was promptly applied, but when the fire was well under control the hose broke, and before it could be repaired the fire got under way a second time, and the flames rapidly spread across the canal, igniting the store and wareroom of the Willamette Pulp & Paper Company. Both buildings were completely destroyed, with their contents, consisting of alum, sulphur, pulp and machinery. The loss is estimated at $10,000 or $15,000, largely covered by insurance. Slight damage was also done to the wharf and canal, but not enough to interfere with traffic. The origin of the fire is believed to have been due to spontaneous combustion.

Oregonian, Portland, OR 30 Aug 1901

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Transcribed by June. Thanks June!