Birmingham age-herald., 1894-07-22

The Consolidated Electric Light com pany, damage to wires, lamps and c. Scheusser's S plumbing shop. ......... 300 Ltlie Lester, furniture ................... 1000 R. T. Markham's carpenter shop. 250 R. Safely's bicycle shou. .................. 300 w. Il. Cooper, building. 500 $2,8 In addition to these, guests of the hotel sustained losses In the way of jeweiry, baggage, etc., to the amount of several hundred dollars.
 Several of the guests of the hotel had narrow escapes, and two men made their exit by way of the fire escapes. Manager Ed B. Freeman was overcome by smoke aud heat and had to be taken out by an officer who was near bim. Two or three guests sustained slight burns. CHIEF MULLIN ON THE WATER PRESSURE. As stated in the AGE HERALD yesterday morning the water pressure was very weak, to which fact is due the destruction of the Caldwell. Chief Mullin stated to an AGE HERALD reporter yesterday that when the hose was connected to the hydrants and the water turned on he found pressure of less
 than thirty pounds. He at once sent one of his firemen to the Southside headquar- ters to throw the valve, which regulated the pressure of water, but when that had been done the pressure was very little if any higher than before. The streams could not be thrown much above the sec-
 
 To add to the other disadvantages one of the engines broke down aud was dis abled for about thirty minutes. MAJOR MILNER TALKS. Major w. J. Miluer, superin intendent of the Birmingham Water Works company, with whom the city has a contract for water, stated to an AGE HERALD reporter yesterday afternoon tn at the low pressure of the water during the fire was not charge able to the company. He said it was not much, if any, lower than ordinarily, aud there had been no complaint heretofore ex- cept in one instance. He said that when he got to the office yesterday morning he found there a pressure of sixty pounds, and when he went up to the fire and saw the large number of streams being played on it be was surprised at them having as much pressure as they did.
 He said further, that two elevator pipes, one in the Johnston building and one in the Hawkins building, had bursted, from which thousands of gallons of water were pouring in great streams. This, together with the large number of hydrant connec- tions, was enough to reduce the pressure 10 very low notch. "But,' said he, lit does not seem that there was any scarcity of water when it is known that 8 ,000 GOO gal Ions were drawn rom the reservoir during the morning, and besides, the engine at North Birmingham was set to pumping water into the city shortly after the fire broke out.''
 Major Milner said that the regulator, which is located at Avenue H and Twenty second street, was reported in good condi- ton by Mir. Merriweather Friday noon, and that it worked all right yesterday morning. He said the trouble must have been with the valve at the Southside sta- t ou, which throws the regulator when the fire alarm is sounded. He said the appa- ratus had sprung a leak there, and on O former occasion, when it failed to work, an investigation showed that 1t had been screwed on too tight, and he supposed, though he did not know 1t to be so, that was the case this time. He said further that the buildings burned were on a con- siderable elevation and that would reduce the pressure somewhat.
 DRUMMER's EXPERIENCE. MT. J. P. Kictz, a St. Louis drummer, who was occupying room 53, fifth floor, at the Caldwell, saw the flames when they first burst from the Johnston building, and he said that he never saw anything like it before, although he has seen many disastrous fires in different cities, He says that the flames burst from every window on all the floors almost at the same time. When he first saw the fire there was but small blaze, and within an instant the en- tire building was af1ame.
 MT. KlotZ lost everything he had with him except one suit of underwear, a coat, pair of pants and pair of shoes. His gold watch and chain, cash and several suits of clothes, all valued at about $4U0, were de- strOyeQ. when ne ursb saw the Ire ne thought he would have time enough to go down on the street and return to his room and secure his effects if the fire should spread to the Caldwell, but when it did this the hotel was afame throughout be- fore he could go to his room.
 THE BRAVE LADDiEs.
 Chief Mullin and all his men fought nobly and bravely to save property endan gered by the fire and it was with great diff culty the Weeden & Dent and the other handsome four r-stcry buildings fronting on Second avenue, between Twenty first and Twenty second streets, were saved. Much valuable assistance was also rendered by volunteers who were willing and anx- ious to do anything in their power that would help to stop the fire. They deserve much credit for whatth they did.
 CALLED FOR AID.
 Chief Mullen telegraphed to Montgomery and Meridian about o'clock for assistance and 1000 feet of hose and such other appa- ratus as could be spared was being loaded on special train when the request was countermanded.
 The fire was under control at 1 o'clock, but the firemeu continued to work about the ruins until 5:30.
 VISITED THE RUINS.
 Thousands of people visited the scene of the fire and gazed on the ruins yesterday. H The walls of the Caldwell and the other