Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-20
THE EARTH TREMBLE
Mill Compary's Plant at Magazine Point
Totally Consumed.
IGNITE THE MAGAZINE
SPARKS
And Terrific Explosion, Which Was Felt
Many Miles Away, Shattered Houses
and Window Glass Only Two
Casualties-Wire Down.

Mobile, Ala, Jan. 19.-About o'clock
this afternoon the planning mill of the
Dixie Mill company, located about five
miles above the city on Mobile river,
caught fire and was totally consumed,
there being no appliances sufficient to
cope with the flames. The fire spread to
the dry kiln and it was also consumed
with large quantity of lumber, both in
the kilns and on the yards. The saw mill
was saved.
The plant was valued at about $500
and was insured for about $4,000.
During the progress of the fire this af-
ternoon sparks from the mill set fire to
the city magazine which is located
across the Louisville and Nashville track
from the mill plant, and about o'clock
residents of this city were startled by
tremendous explosion, which broke glass
in many houses in the northern part of
the city and as far out as the convent in
Summerville, about nine miles from the
scene of the explosion.
Men at work on the tower of the con-
vent were almost shaken off and in some
parts of the city chimneys were shaken
down.
At the time of the explosion there were
5000 pounds of powder and 300 pounds of
dynamite stored in the magazine. The
air in the vicinity was filled with flying
bricks and a number of cottages were
blown to pieces by the terrific explosion,
which was distinctly heard at Spring Hill,
seven miles west of the city, and at least
ten or twelve miles from the explosion.
The lateness of the hour at which the ex-
plosion occurred and the inaccessibility
of the place after nightfall make 1t i'm
possible tonight to verify all the reports
as to the, casualties to human life.
Mr.. Gwin, bookkeeper of the Dixie Mill
company, was slightly hurt by flying
bricks, and Bob Knight, colored, is re-
ported to have been dangerously injured
in the same manner. The injuries to
these two men are the only ones reported
that have been verified, but there are re-
ports to the effct that two negro men
were blown to atoms, and that several
others who were engaged in taking goods
to place of safety from store about
block from the magazine at the time
when the explosion occurred, were more
or less dangerously injured.
There are two smaller magazines near
the large one which exploded which are
said to be well filled with explosives, but
in an interview tonight John II. Moore.
keeper of the magazines, said thai he did
not apprehend any further danger.
1t is said that when the sparks first
set fire to the roof of the large magazine
that the blaze that followed was seen by
some man who Immediately ran about
giving the alarm and warning the people
living in the cottages nearby to fee for
their lives. 1t is said that the act of this
man, whose name could not be learned,
saved a number of lives
Every telegraph wire going north out
of the city was blown down. and all
business for points north has to go by
way of New Orleans. The Louisville ana
Nashville track was obstructed ~ the
fire and all trains arriving since o CLOCK
have been delayed.