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

the crowds would surge back like great wave. only to form again a minute after wards as close to the fire as the pohce would allow.
 Twenty-frst street bridge was packed with people, men, women and children, and when it would hold no more, many went to the Twenty-second street bridge.
 In the railroad yards, on Twenteth street, Powell avenue, Twenty-frst street and even across the railroads at MOTHS avenut the people were standing In hun dreds Conservative estimates make the crowd the largest ever gathered in Bir- mingham, and give the number as being between 15,000 and 25,000
 Work of the Bremen.
 For four hours the fremen fought to save the buildings on Twentieth street. and to prevent the fire from escaping the bounds of the buildings already on fire. They succeeded, although, several times, the window facings and woodwork on the rear of the Twentieth street buildings were on fire, and 1t was feared the stock inside would catch
 When 1t was seen there was no danger of the fire spreading, the streams of wa ter were again turned on the Powell ave- nue building, and were kept there until a late hour last night. The firemen were divided into shifts, one shift relieving an- other at stated hours.
 The only walls of the buildings that remain standing are those in the front of the taller building, portions of the corner in the rear and few sections of the one story building. There are long cracks in all these walls, and they are liable to fall at any minute. They will be pulled down at once to prevent their falling and doing damage.
 Debris is piled many feet high on the inside of the buildings which were burned. Small explosions were heard Tn the after noon, showing the fire underneath had reached another box of cartridges. These came with a regularity that was surpris- ing, and showed that the fire was still there ready to break out and do addf- tional damage at any momenr.
 Three Men Injured.
 Three people were slightly injured in the fire Bert Simpson. an employe of the company, had his leg mashed by Dome falling scales. and was taken to his home in Ensley. Will Rice was burned about the face when the fire first broke out. Ed Pegues was cut on the shoulder by fall ing glass. but not seriously. With these three exceptions no one was injured al- though the number of falling walls made it very dangerous for the firemen fighting close to the buildings.
 The fall of the wall between the thre- story building which was burned and the one-story office building on Twen- tieth street crushed off large section of the latter building, but did little dam age further than that, all the valuables having been removed.
 The Moore & Handley company has several warehouses and other places of business in the city, so their business will 4.,ka xxrfll rent temporary quarters for their office.
 MulIen's Statement.
 Chief Mullen. when asked for a state ment last night said:
 'I need another steamer and some more men. And l need them badly. Time after time I have tried to get them and have failed. The fire is the greatest plea I can have for them at once. The wa ter pressure was fairly good throughout the fire, but I need engines.
 ''We could not have saved the build ings which were burned. When I turned into Twentieth street this morning I could see masses of flame and smoke. and it looked as if there was an explo- sion. I cannot account for the rapid spread of the flames in any other man. ner, for when I got here the roof of the smaller building was gone and the flames were pouring into the windows of the taller building.
 q have never seen ire travel as rapidly as this one did. The flames were well fed and urged on by the wind from the west and they travelled like wild fire. The men were not able to stay in the second and third story but few minutes. and the flames spread almost fast enough to catch them in the build- ing.
 ssThe walls fell soon after we arrived and then we did nothing but prevent the flames from spreading to the build ings on Twentieth street
 q wish to say through the columns cf the paper that we thank the Milner. Kettig company for their generous gift and will suitably acknowledge it as soon as we are rested and have had little