The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-27
$4,000 INSURANCE CARRIED
Building Burned With No One to
Fight Flames.
DEPARTMENT DID NOT RESPOND
Limits-Plant Was Considerably
Damaged by Flames During
Last Mardi Gras.

Early Sunday morning the plant of the
situated at the corner of Seventh street and
Avenue Fl was destroyed by fire, entailing a
loss of about $4,000.
The refrigerators and store rooms were
stocked with large quantities of dressed
beef, pork, mutton, hams, side meat, Shout
ders and othed packing house products
which went up in smoke, making an i'm
promptu Christmas barbecue
AT 2 o'clock, Night Waterman Wilkes who
was also in charge of the boiler rooms,
made his regular rounds and found every
thing in order. He registered as he was re-
quired to do on the time clock which hung
in the office and then returned to the engine
rooms at the south end of the building. He
busted himseuf in feeding the fires and at
tending to such duties as were required Of
him. A few minutes before o'clock while
preparing to make his regular hourly round.
he was attracted by the smell of smoke and
rushing around to the front of the building
he discovered the inside of the Office in
flames. Opening the door he attempted to
enter but was driven back by the heat and
smoke. He at once gave the alarm and CALL
Ing 10 NlRDl Waterman bdhcI VI tic
Standard Oil company, which is situated
two blocks north on Avenue F, requesting
him to turn in an alarm. Mr. Baker rushed
tc the telephone and called up the fire de-
partmcnt, but on account of the plant being
located outside the city limits the depart
ment failed to respond. After waiting few
minutes another alarm was turned in, but
to no avail, and the big structure was soon
a mass of flames.
Brisk North Wind
There was stiff breeze blowing from the
north which drove the flames into the build
ing. The bright light and cries for help,
attracted the attention of a number of per-
sons living in the vicinity including several
employees Of the company, but it was useless
to attempt to fight the flames and all en-
ergy was turned towards saving the
wagons, horses and live stock in the frame
stables situated about one hundred feet to
the north. 1t was but the work of a few
moments until the walls began to fall in
sending the flames high into the air. On
account of the highly infiammable nature of
the stock, the structure was soon a roaring
mass, the fats adding fury to the flames.
After the walls had fallen the fire con-
tinued to burn, eating its way into the
cellars, where much stock was stored
Two-Story Brick Structure
The plant consisted of a large two-story
brick structure, fitted with the most mod
ern machinery, including a $4,000 electric
light plant. ice machine, refrigerator,
packers and all necessary appurtenances
to a frst-class establishment. 1t was
owned by Ike Adler, who bought 1t in
under a mortgage sale. He operated it,
with p G. Ault manager. Mr. Adler
estimates the loss al 10000, with $4,000
insurance. Manager Ault, who is Ill at
hame, gives the insurance at 81, 000
The enterprise was first started by the
Tennessee Packing company in a large
frame building on the present site. The
plant was totally destroyed by fire about
five years ago, but was rebuilt with brick.
During the Mardi Gras celebration in Feb
ruary of the present year the plant suf-
fered considerable damage from fire, but
was saved from total destruction by the
city fire department, which, with much