The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-09
Origin Unknown.

Origin Unknown.
 The origin of the fire is not known, all though it started in the northeastern cor ner of the one-story building, which is nearest the Twenty-first street bridge. One of the employees went into this build ing to get some piping and ran out crying Fire" The alarm was sent in at once, but before the fire department arrived the entire one-story building was a mass of flames and a strong wind from the east was carrying the flames into the second and third-story windows of the adjoring three-story building.
 Within very few minutes the second and third floors of the tall building were on fire and the flames were leaping high into the air, aided in their upward flight by wnirlwinds formed by the conjunction of the cool atmosphere and the hot air from the building
 Ten streams Playing.
 The fire department had ten streams playing on the buildings in few minutes after the alarm was turned in. Six of those streams were from the engines and four from plugs The last were almost foo weak to be of much advantage to the fire fighters. It was then that Chief Mullen sent his cry to the beavers for another f1rst-cass steamer. He could have used one to great advantage. With the examples of the Louis Saks ana the Moore X Handley fires the chief hopes the members of the city council will open their ears and listen to his begging Tor more equipment and men.
 Tbe department had hardly gotten their lines laid and the water running when the roof and the exposed walls of the one-story building fell. few minutes later the wall between the two pulioinss fell inward. which aided in spreading the flames. When this wall fell the wind had free access to the flames and they leaped higher and higher.
 The Chiefs Tactics.
 Chief Mullen saw it was too late 10 save the three-story building which faces on Powell avenue, so he sent all streams to play on the office building and the three-story building on the corner or Twentieth street and the railroad. By hard work these were saved, and the fire was prevented from spreading across the street It is doubtful if the flames could have spanned Twentieth street sufficiently to have secured a holding on the Miner Kettig building, but this was feared, and the firemen watched that building closely. It was not however, in danger, as the fire did not spread to the building facing If on Twentieth street.
 Constantly during the first hours of the fire there was explosions of more or less violence. It IS supposed tndt an carry explosion caused the rapid advance of the flames through the one-story building.
 Frequent Explosions.
 These explosions frequently sent cinders skyward. and caused the flames te dance higher and higher for few seco ds. what caused the explosions is not known, members of the firm stating there was no nowder in the building at the time and no oil except that used for lubricating pur- poses. This is not explosive. Hundreds of boxes of loaded shells ana cartridges caused many of the minor explosions, but something caused greater explosions. as thousands can testify who were gathered on every available spot for blocks around the fire Several times when it was ru- mored there was powder in the building