GEORGE COX MILL
Bear Creek Road
July 20, 1915: "The light of another fire lighted up the southeaster sky Friday night and the pyrotechnics were furnished by the Cox mill on the Bear creek road which was totally destroyed. The burning of the mill, operated by Tom Griffith will mean the throwing out of work of a small force of men. The mill, situated alongside a gulch near the highway about two miles out has been operated continuously and has been one of Bandon's sources of supply during the shut down of the larger mills.
Just how the fire started is not known but may have originated in and around the boiler or from the slab pole where the refuse is burned. The fire was discovered at about 10:30 Friday night by the help who live in the vicinity of the mill.
A fire of this kind is what every mill man dreads but is constantly expecting and Manager Griffith, awaking from his first sleep in his home on 9th St. and seeing the blaze, knew at once what to expect. Hastily dressing he drove to the scene and found the mill beyond saving and the men at hand doing what they could to save lumber that was exposed. While it lasted the building made rich fuel for the flames and the glare thereof could be seen for miles. The fire burned itself out speedily although the slab pile in the gulch smoldered for several days.
The plant belonged to Geo. Cox and Tom Griffiths with the latter as manager and the loss is between $2,000 and $2,500. The loss is total as there can be no insurance on a risk of this kind. There were six saws in the mill and much belting, pulleys and shafting that were destroyed. The boiler is practically uninjured and the engine and some other machinery can probably be put in shape to run again with some expense.
At the time of the fire the mill was engaged in sawing plank for the Oregon avenue paving. The mill worked steadily and it was the custom of the managers to move it every couple of years to a new stand of timber and stay in the new location until the available timber was used up. Just what will be done in the way of starting it up again is uncertain, the management not having fully decided." (The Bandon Recorder)
Just how the fire started is not known but may have originated in and around the boiler or from the slab pole where the refuse is burned. The fire was discovered at about 10:30 Friday night by the help who live in the vicinity of the mill.
A fire of this kind is what every mill man dreads but is constantly expecting and Manager Griffith, awaking from his first sleep in his home on 9th St. and seeing the blaze, knew at once what to expect. Hastily dressing he drove to the scene and found the mill beyond saving and the men at hand doing what they could to save lumber that was exposed. While it lasted the building made rich fuel for the flames and the glare thereof could be seen for miles. The fire burned itself out speedily although the slab pile in the gulch smoldered for several days.
The plant belonged to Geo. Cox and Tom Griffiths with the latter as manager and the loss is between $2,000 and $2,500. The loss is total as there can be no insurance on a risk of this kind. There were six saws in the mill and much belting, pulleys and shafting that were destroyed. The boiler is practically uninjured and the engine and some other machinery can probably be put in shape to run again with some expense.
At the time of the fire the mill was engaged in sawing plank for the Oregon avenue paving. The mill worked steadily and it was the custom of the managers to move it every couple of years to a new stand of timber and stay in the new location until the available timber was used up. Just what will be done in the way of starting it up again is uncertain, the management not having fully decided." (The Bandon Recorder)