Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-12
SOLD ON THE BLOCK.
The Age Herald Plant, Rights and Franchises Sold at Public Out cry to Hon. Frank
 P. O'Brien.

Promptly at noon yesterday large crowd gathered at the frontentrance of the county court house to witness the sale of the AGE HERALD plant, franchises and accounts, in accordance with decree in equity in the case of the Birmingham Trust and Savings company of this city vs. the Age Herald company. E. J. Smyer, attorney for the Birmingham Trust and Savings company, trustees for the bondholders, was the auo- tioneer, and immediately upon the arrival of the hour of noon he proceeded to the work of disposing of same.
 The first offering was receivers accounts due and uncollected, amounting to S7781. S5. These were, after a few bids, knocked down to Mir. John w. Johnston of New York for S12O0.
 The next sale was accounts due the Age Herald company created from the time of the issuance of bonds to tine time of the appointment of the receiver, amounting to S1O, ,9s0. These were also bid in by MT. Johnston at S175. Then followed the Sale of accounts due the Age Herald company before the execution of the mortgage and bonds, amounting to s59.S0, including &C., counts barred by limitation, which were knocked down to Col. J. J. Altman for si6
 About S65 worth of bonds and stocks owned by the Age- Herald company were next offered and sold to MT. Johnston for S31.
 Then came the most important sale of all, including the AGE HERALD plant in it's entirety, with it's press franchises. Here all interest centered, and when the first bid, that of MT. John w. Tomlinson, S5000, was announced the fight was on. Mir. John w. Johnston came to the front, raising the first bid as much more, an- nouncing his willingness to give ZIG, ,000. This created hum of excited whispering, but was changed to curiosity when MT. N. E. Barker, president of the First National bank, bid S12, ,50O. This bid was met by Mir. Johnston with a raise of S25 Mir. John w. Tomlinson then put in his oar and went S25 better The bidding then became spirited at S5 and S1o shot, till the sum of 3,500, Col. J. W. Johnston's bid, had been reached. At this juncture Mir. Tomlinson remarked, ''That lets me out.'' The auctioneer cried, ''$l3, ,600, SIS, ,500, last call-'' when MT. Frank P. O'Brien remarked: "Gentlemen, this is ohild's play; I'll give you ,OOO for the property.''
 rNtx xg. Hx. V1I, the bid S10 and was in turn met by simi- lar raise from Mir. O'Brien. Then it became apparent that the contest had nar- rowed down to two men-Messrs. John- ston and O Brien. By fives and tens the bidders pressed the limit until the Sl9, ,000 mark was reached. ''How far will it go?" was asked hy several, but it seemed tho end was notyet. Higher and higher went the price until the crier announced, ISIS, ,95O-are you all done?" There was a pause, and MT. Johnston said: "I'll give S20, ,O00 for the AGE HERALD.' The bid was announced by the crier, who by this time was getting hoarse. "Are you all done7 Once, twice. "Tll make it $20, ,010,' said MT. O'Brien. This offer was repeated several times by the crier, but the limit, it seemed, had been reached, and Frank P. O'Brien was declared the purchaser of the AaE-HERALD plant, it's rights and franchises.
 Cheer after cheer followed the announce ment, and MT. O'Brien was the recipient of many congratulations, especially from the AGE HERALD employees, from the top to the bottom floors, the colored employees being among the first.
 The AeE- HERALD will continue pubica- tion at the same old stand, will remain the same in politics. will endeavor to give it's readers the benefit of all the happenings of the day and night, and will always be ready to further the best interests of the people of Birmingham, Jefferson county and the state of Alabama.
 MT. Frank V. Evans, present receiver of the AaE- HERALD company. will be sole business manager of the paper, and will endeavor to meet the good graces of every one who has business dealings with it.
 Hon. Frank P. O'Brien, purchaser of the AGE HERALD, will assume. the edito. rial management as soon as the confrma- ton of the sale is made by the courts, and will then announce his organization.
 Prof. John H. Long of Northwestern university pronounces Price's Cream Bak- ing Powder absolutely pure.
 WILL BE OF GREAT BENEFIT.
 AUGUSTA, Ga., Feb. 11.-Mr. R. H. Ed munds of Baltimore, writing to this city in references to the National Winter Chautau-