Fire Threatens Elliott Knitting Mills, June 4, 1919

From the Hickory Daily Record, June 4, 1919

Fire Threatens Hosiery Mill Plant

Fire that originated in the warehouse or storage room of the Elliott Knitting Mills last night about 8:30 raged stubbornly for several minutes, but was placed under control with a loss estimated at $1,000 by Mr. Eubert Lyerly. How the fire caught was not not known.

It was due to the heroic work of the firemen and several assistants that great damage was not done. The part of the plant where mill caught was built of sheet iron and was used to store boxes in which hosiery is packed and when these wooden boxes caught fire they blazed rapidly and threatened first the older mill, adjoining. Not only were the old and new mills in jeopardy, but the ice plant across the street and several other buildings near by were in damage.

The fire department made a run for the scene and three streams of water were soon playing on the flames. Firemen worked like beavers on the outside, inside and top of the building and stopped the flames, which had a good start.

An automobile truck in the building was destroyed.

Mr. Lyerly and his friends are thankful, in view of the seriousness of the fire, that the damage was not greater. The plant did not have to close down and was running today as usual.