Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-30
CRUSHED BY HOT BRICKS.
A Fireman Killed and Six Others Injured, Three Fatally, by Falling Wall
 at-Augusta.

Atlanta. June 29.-Augusta had it's first fatal fire in years yesterday morning, says special tc the Constitution.
 At ? o'clock fire broke out in the three story iron building occupied by Miller & Co.,, millers and dealers in salt meats and grain. When the department arrived it was found that the fire was not to be con- trolled by engines and their apparatus that reported, and a general alarm was sent in, calling out the entire department. The fire was the hottest and largest in Augusta for some time, and owing to the situation of the mills and warehouse it was impossible to manage it. The mill is located with the canal on two sides of it and trestle on the third, while the brick walls of the warehouse blocked the streams on the other approach. While endeavoring to get stream through this warehouse one fireman lost his life and six others were badly injured, three of whom are expected to die at any time
 Had matters been properly managed there would have been no fatalities The building, part of which fell, could not have been saved. Chief Roulette. however, ordered the men to break hole in the gable end and put stream through. There were open spaces in the brick for ventilation about 20 feet from the ground. Riley went up on an 1S-foot ladder and knocked out several bricks. Finding the ladder too short, he came down, and, with the aid of Morton who was killed outright, got 30-foot ladder from truck No. 2, standing near. The wall had become weakened and was red hot from fire within. longer ladder was placed against it and it fell crashing to the ground.
 i Several firemen saw it falling and call- ed to their companions, but 1t was too late. Morton and Riley were buried be- meath a thousand of bricks. having been knocked to the ground. The other in- jured were all knocked down.
 As soon as it was seen that no more of the wall was likely to fall men rushed in and attempted to uncover the mutilated forms of the firemsn. The bricks were so hot it was impossible to handle them without being burned, but regardless of this the men were soon released.
 When the two most covered were taken out all of their clothes were burned from them. They were laid on the sidewalks. Later they were removed to hospitals in ambulances.
 The Dead and Injured.
 The list of the killed and wounded is as follows:
 Aaron Morton, assistant to superin- tendeDt of the fire alarm system. mashed. skull fractured; died five minutes after being taken out.
 Mike Riley, ladderman on truck No. 2, leg broken and internally Injured; will die.
 Bob Weawley hoseman engine com pany No. 2, leg broken and today ampu- tated at city hospital; will die from shock and loss of blood.
 Pete Frederick, spectator, leg and arm broken, internal injuries; will die.
 Gabe Walters, driver Chief Roulette, crushed about head and shoulders: will recover.
 Ben Pueffer, driver chemical No. l, cut about head.
 H. G. Gale, ladderman, truck No. 2, cut about head and back, also burned.
 Among those who made narrow es- capes, being hit by falling br.cks, were Lieutenan. Cartledge of the police, Wal lace Wheeless of the Chronicle, and Driver Morgan of truck No 1, who saved himself by running close to the falling wall.
 The men, Riley. Weakiey and Freder- ick, colored, are almost sure to die. Mir. Leroy J. Miller, whose wife owns the property, stated today that 1t was valued at $40.000- and had an insurance of only $15, 1000.
 The mill has a singular history. this being the second time 1t has besn burned. Two years ago the section of the city n which the mill Is located was struck by a cyclone and part of the roof demolished. Miller was the only person In the city carrying storm insurance at the time- this because the old mill was struck by a cyclone in 1878. Thousands of pigeons were roasted in the big fire.