1907 - BIG PUBLISHING HOUSE BURNED - Phelps Co., at Springfield, Mass., Sustain Loss Estimated at $1,000,000 - Spontaneous Combustion Started Fire.

Springfield, Mass., Jan. 28. - The entire plant of the Phelps Publishing Company, comprising four buildings and covering nearly an acre of ground, was destroyed by fire to-day, causing a loss estimated at $1,000,000. No one was injured.

The fire started from spontaneous combustion among some benzine-soaked rags in the basement of the main building. In addition to this structure, which was four stories in height, there was another four-story building, one five stories in height, another of two and a half stories, all being connected by passageways. All the buildings, which were of brick, were destroyed.