Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-14
FORTY-ONE HOUSES BURNED
A Lady in Delicate Health Dies From Excite
 ment of the Occasion.
A VERY FLY RUN FROM BIRMINGHAM.
s;x Miles in Four Minutes by the Fire Boys Chief Mullin. .Injured-There WasNo Water and Dynamite
 Had to Be Used


 The greatest fire in the history of Pratt City occurred yesterday afternoon, and this morning a good portion of that lit tie city is in ashes and several families are homeless.
 The fire started about 3:30 p. m., and at o'clock, when it was gotten under control, forty-one houses, principally residences, were nothing but deprls. The gallant fire laddies fought braVely, but under great difficulties. There was no water other than that to be cbtained from wells and csterns, and these were soon exhausted.
 The fire originated in the small resi- dence adjoining the city hail. occupied by Mrs Vallely, and gained such head way before discovered that it could not be extinguished. The houses were all frame and burned rapidly.
 From the cabin the flames spread to the city hall then to the city school building, Northern Methodist church and so on until forty-one of Pratt City bouses had been reduced to ashes.
 After the fire had been raging for an hour and house after house had gone
  telephoned to Birmingham for assist ance. Chief Mullin promptly responded to the call, and summoning four good and brave men to his assistance went at once to the scene Of the conilaSra- tion The Northside steam engine and one hose reel, with 800 feet of hose, manned by Chief Mullin and Bremen Walton Fair. Massey and Gossett ana Ex-Fireman Gager, were sent to Fouf- teenth and First avenue, where they were put aboard Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad car for shipment to Pratt City The run from there was made Tn four minutes, the distance being nearly six miles,
 Two blocks had been swept by the flames when the Birmingham fire de- partment got there. They went to work to save the adjoining property. but had no supply of water except such as could be drawn from wells. This did not last long. The flames. however, by this time had reached a less thinly settled DOT tion of the city and met stronger re- siStence. In the meantime dynamite had been applied to three houses, which were blown up, thus creating a wider avenue over which the flames would have to leap. All this time the bucket brigade did valiant, but fruitlesS work.
 By 5:30 the fire was under control and al o'clock only few heaps of brick and smouldering debris remained where a few hours before had stood two score and one of Pratt City's buildings.
 A complete list of the houses destroyed was obtained by ap Age-Herald reporter and is as follows:
 Residences-Dr. T. T. Thaxton, $500; F. M. Nelms, two cottages, $500; A. Mum ma, 5000; John Brown, three cottages, $1500; J. P. Burns, six cottages, 5000; sam Mumma, $500; A. Fayette, seven cottages $s000; D. J. Suther, 5000; J. c. DeLacy, $500; George Gorff, residence and jewelry store combined, $2000; Chris Ellis $1000; Mrs. Webb, two cottages, 5000; John L. Powell $500: Mrs. Will Hams, three residences. $2000; John Schools, two cottages, $700
 Northern Methodist church. $500; city hall, $2000; John Brown, store, $500; J. r. Burns, office, $200; City hotel, Mrs. Bois owner, $3000 furniture $2500, no insur- ance; city school building $SJ00, insur- ance $2200; Iron City Building and Loan association two stores. $2000.
 Damaged-J. D. Jordon's residence, s200, fully insured; r. J. Gilbert, resi- dence, $500
 Total number houses destroyed, forty one; damaged, two Value of those de- stroyed $35, ,800
 Stocks of goods destroyed, furniture, fixtures, etc., fully $10,000
 The city hall was insured for S1000; John Burns store, partially; city school building, $2200; Dr. Thaxton and MT. Eayette carried some insurance. The total amount of insurance carried did not amount to more than $6000 or $7000.
 J. F. B. Ards law library was de- stroyed; also his typewriter and office furniture.
 Mrs c. G. Bonner, married lady, age about 30, who was in delicate health, died from the effects of excitement.
 Mrs B. F. Phillips was also prostrated from the same canse-recovered.
 Chief Thad Mullin of the Birmingham fire department happened to an acci- dent that came near being serious. While connecting the hose to the en- zine the suction of the engine fell, strik- ing him on the head He was stunned for a. few minutes and had to lie down. He was able to return to the city in a short time.
 Lee Winn. colored, while removing furniture from some of the buildings, ran against a scantling. which jabbed one of his eyes almost out
 Pratt City's fire department is vol unteer, and has poor equipments. The city has no water works system and de- bends on one chemical engine to do the work in case of fire. This engine was out of order and last Saturday was shipped to Indianapolis for repairs.
 Appointments.
 Washington, May 13.-The president today appointed Samuel R. Rogers of North Carolina collector of internal rev