The age-herald., 1902-01-05
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~ destroyed and another partially. < -> Loss s15O0. ~~<-~<<*<<<~<~<
 Seals Hall, a three-story brick struc- ture occupying 2lO5 and 2107 First avenue. was partially destroyed by fire which originated in the rear of the building about 7SO o'clock last night, and was not entirely extinguished until 1O:5O o'clock. The loss on the building will amount to about s10,OOO, with insurance of S1,0oo. The building is the property of Mrs. B. T. Bragg of Montgomery.
 The first floor was occupied by the Bir- mingham Athletic Club. the second floor by the Commercial Club and the third floor by MT. H. E. Stout. Mir. E. M. Dur ham, Jr., Mir. J. T. Scheed and w. A. Vaughan, Jr, all civil engineers in the employ of the Southern Railroad.
 The fire was discovered by MT. Houston Davis, who was playing pool in the rooms of the Athletic Club. Flames were then shooting up the elevator shaft, which is in the rear. The fire probably started from the furnace boiler which furnishes hot water for the baths of the club.
 When the fire department arrived, Chief Mullin saw at once that he had a stub born blaze to handle, with possibility of its spreading. and sent in general alarm. Soon there were eight or nine streams playing on the buildings two of them from the water tower which was placed in active service several days ago.
 Fought From Roof.
 The firemen fought the flames from the roof of the Steiner building corner First avenue and Twenty-first street, from the Atkins stables on the Twenty-second street side and from the roof of store in the rear The water tower was sta- tioned in front and from it two streams were played into the front windows.
 The fire burned steadily for over two hours and at one time 1t looked as if the entire building was doomed. As it was the third floor was burned away and the second considerably damaged. The rear or the building on the first floor was also damaged by fire and the entire build ing was flooded with water.
 The Steiner building from the roof of which the firemen worked is damaged by the water, the loss ranging from $500 to 5000 according to an estimate made by MT. Steiner. The plastering in several places fell in.
 Troop D Heavy Loser.
 Troop D is the heaviest looser outside of the owner of the building. The compa- ny lost its entire equipment including guns, uniforms, cartridges. a gatling gun and other accoutrements. The loss of the company will amount to nearly s3O00 of which Captain E. J. McCrossin will loose s400 in dress uniforms.
 The Birmingham Athletic club will not suffer heavily. The members saved all the gymnasium apparatus without it's be- ing damaged except by water. It was first thought the baths and lockers which contained the, clothing of the men, were destroyed, but 1t was found afterwards that they were only slightly damaged.
 Four billiard and pool tables were badly damaged, but are fully covered by insur- ance. for 5000 in the Phoenix. represented in Birmingham by w. B. Leedy and $500 in the Milwaukee Mechanical, repre- scented by Bethea & Co.
 The four men who\ had rooms in the building probably lost 5000, most of which was in clothing, books and en- gineer instruments.
 It was impossible last night to ascer- tain the exact loss of the Commercial Club. There was nothing in It's room of any great value, 1t is said, and the chief damage was by water.
 Secretary J. B. Gibson said late last night that the loss of the Commercial Club would not exceed $500. The club had lot of furniture and valuable pa- pers packed in the rear of the second floor which will be total loss.
 The Building Insured.
 The building was erected in 1892 at a cost of about $15OOo, and was covered by $11,O00 insurance. The Thuringia of Erfurt,