The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-07
FIRE AND WATER
 CAUSE BIC LOSS Ci4Paper Company and Excelsior Laundry Damaged Heavily WAS PARTIALLY INSURED Fire Originated on Third Floor of the Buildings at 1so5-o7 Second Ave
 nue-occupied by Negro
 Secret Fraternlties.

Fire. which was discovered about 12:15 o'clock this morning, destroying the roof and part of the third floor of the build ings 1905 and 1907 Second avenue the form CT owned by Louis V. Clark and occupied by the City Paper company and the oth- CT owned by George A 5sinn & Son and occupied by Bllnn's Excelsior Laundry. The total damage by fire and water was about $10,000 or s12.00O. It is believed that 5000 or $500 will cover the actual fire loss, which was fully insured. The large damage will be from water on the ma chinery of the City Paper company and the laundry. This is partially covered by insurance.
 The stock of the City Paper company Is damaged considerably, but 1t was impos- sible to estimate the amount. as 1t was not known how much stock was on | hand
 The fire originated on the third floor, which extends across both buildings. and which was occupied by lodges of colored Knights of Pythias and Odd Fellows. The cause is not known. but 1t Is supposed that the paraphernaiia caught from a
 
 were a number of people in the hall yes- terday afternoon and last night. Each building was valued at apout S12.- 900. On the Blinn building there was an l insurance of $6000, carried by the Consol- l dated Insurance agency.
 The machinery of the Excelsior laun- dry is valued at about slo.UUU. and Is cov- l cred by $5000 insurance, carried by Louis | V. Clark & Co.,, 5000; J. G. Smith & Co.,, l 5000: s. Bethea & Co.,, 5000; c. L. Stick ney & Co.,. 5000. The building is damaged about $500O or $60OO from fire, and 1t is im- possible to estimate the damage to the machinery from water.
 The damage to the Clark building from fire and water was only about $500 or $6OO and it is said to be flu " covered by in- | surance.
 The City Paper Company is probably | the heaviest loser. It carries machinery valued at s12,000 insured for about 5000
 The fire was discovered by a negro who was sitting on the steps leading to | the second story of the building. He heard cracking noise as If wood was burning. Upon Investigation he found the building was on fire and gave the alarm
 When the fire department arrived smoke | was pouring from the front and rear | windows of the buildings and the flames were beginning to lick out of them.
 Four streams of water were thrown in from the front, one being from the ex- tension ladder of the hook and ladder 1 truck, and two streams were thrown in the rear windows. The f1remen climber on a small shed in the rear and were able to do very effective work from their eie- vated position.
 The numerous partitions in the build ing greatly retarded the work of the firemen, as 1t was impossible to get | Gfr nf fo ha | center of the fire. After these partitions had burned away the firemen were able to extinguish the flames very quickly. l By o'clock the fire was out 1t having been under control for a half hour at l that time. The third floors of both build ings were completely gutted by the 1 flames
 | The fire was confined principally to the floor on which 1t originated. In the rear l 1t came down to the second floor and | burned the window frames and some l other wood work. but it was soon extin- | gushed there and confined to the third | floor.
 l At one time 1t was thought the flames | would spread to the adjoining buildings | on the east, but there was really not much fear of that on account of the thick | walls. People were, however, prepared to move out on both sides of the fire.
 About 1:15 o'clock portions of the roof | fell in and the flames shot fifty feet into the air. The entire neighborhood was aroused and people came to the fire from all parts of the city. Although it was late there were several hundred people gathered on Second avenue, Nineteenth street and First avenue.
 When the roof fell the crowd thought the fire was spreading to the building | occupied by the Seals Piano & Organ 1 Go. and to The Age-Herald building, and l 1t commenced warning the members of the mechanical force of the paper to move | out, which advice they took.
 | Chief Mullen said that the water pres sure was barely sufficient to carry the l water to the third floor. and that he did not cave engine force enough to get suf- l ficient number of streams into the build ing. He had four engines at the fire, the two first-class steamers and the two re- serve steamers. About thirty minutes af- ter he arrived he ordered out the reservs | engines, as 1t then looked as if the fire might spread to the adjoining buildings, and he wished to have the engines ready in case 1t did.
 l MT. George Blinn, Jr stated that the Excelsior Laundry would be open for work this morning usual. He has mads l arrangements with the other laundries to do his work temporarily. The fire throws about 65 people employed by the laundry 1 out of work