The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-02
FLAMES IN THE
MORRIS HOTEL
s#H#ss
Beautiful Structure Threatened
With Destruction.
--- .=.z
FIRE IN THE BASEMENT
Caught From the Range and Had Prob
abl11 paan S,no1Il fIEYirure Several
Caught From the Range and Had Prob
ably Been Smouldering Several
Hours Prompt Work of the
Fire Department.

Birmingham was threatened with dis
astrous fire last night, and but for the
| splendid work of the fire department the
| magnificent Morris hotel building might
| this morning be a smouldering mass of
| ruin.
About 10 o'clock the smell Of smoke at
tracted the attention of persons in and
about the Morris rotunda, which at first
was thought to have been from locomo-
tive in the railroad yards near by, but as
the smell became stronger an investiga-
ton was at once instituted, and 1t was
found that the smoke was coming from the
basement of the building in the vicinity of
the boiler room. A telephone message was
sent to headquarters and the entire de
partment was ordered out.
Couldn't Locate Fire
The firemen were at first unable to locate
the fire, as the suggestion was made by
spectators that the smoke was coming from
the east wing of the arcade. but finally
an entrance was effected to the basement
through the Office near the elevator shaft,
from which dense volumes of smoke began
to issue. In the meantime several lines of
hose were laid and a stream was turned
on which effectuaily checked the progress
of the fire toward the front of the building.
Another crew was set to work In the rear
of the building and it was soon discovered
that the main trouble was located between
the double concrete and wood floors in the
hotel kitchen in Nineteenth street An at
tempt was made to reach the fire through
the boiler room, Which was Intellectual and
Chief Mullen ordered his men to cut
through the concrete floor. The men set to
work with a will and soon reached the
smouldering fire which burst into flames as
soon as draught was established A
double line of hose vas run into the kitchen
and in a short while the fire was under
control ~ - e'." ft''
The floor was cut out. i'm several places
and large volume OF water was poured
into the basement, which is only about
three feet high under that part of the
building.
Started From Range
Chief Mullen gave as bis opinion that the
fire started from the kitchen range and
had probably been burning for several
hours before discovered, .cr9c 90
AS soon as it was discovered that the fire
was confined to the rear basement, which
is separated by thick walls from the front
of the building, all anxiety as to the safety
of the hotel subsidized and the guests who
were at first badly frightened went back
to their rooms. f-94 9f41.t.
Extinguisher Exploded
+" One of the patent fire extinguishers which
are distributed throughout the hotel ex-
-ploded in the hands of one of the firemen.
but luckily ditUlitaleI damzge,u Several of
the firemen were almost overcome by the
dense smoke.
" Many people gathered around the building
and a small size panic was precipitated in
the opera house the; opposite corner,
where Hanford,- McLean-and~ Tyler were
giving their opening performance to a large
audience. which, however, was quickly
quieted down.
The damage will amount to only few
hundred dollars. which is fully covered by
insurance.