The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-16
WILLIAM Is SWEPT BY HUNGRY FLAMES Eighteen Houses Are Totally
 Destroyed by Fire BREMEN FIGHT BRAVELl With No Water Supply the Progress of the Flames Is at Last Stopped By
 Dynamte-The Loss
 Is $16,ooo.

Wylam, April 15.-(Special )-At o'clock this afternoon fire broke out in the Tate hotel in the central portion of the city and in less than an hour the flames famed by a stout west wind had de- stroyed eighteen residences in the city. The total loss being estimated at be- tween $16,00O and $17,OO0. The hungry flames were only checked by the use of dynamite which was freely used to blow up the houses in the path of the fire. As this city has no water protection it was impossible to make an effective fight against the fire.
 The origion of the fire Is supposed to have been a defective fue At once it was evident that the upper portion of the town was doomed, as the wind was blowing a gale from the west The hotel was consumed in a few minutes and the flames was swept on to Mayor w. j.. Stacy's home. From there they travelled westward to the residence of Dr. W. D. Caldwell who, with his family, was out of town Fire quickly spread to the old Methodist church and the flames wiped away this large frame structure. The tower in three minutes was ablaze From there the sparks flew over hundred yards and it looked as if the entire town would be swept away. The sparks flew to a house near the commissary of the Tennessee company, igniting it and rapid ly spreading to several adjoining three room houses.
 The combined efforts of the fire-fighters were centralized on that point and after hard fighting with dynamite the fire was gotten under control, but not until after the commissary had caught fire four times, each time to be extinguished by the heroic efforts of volunteer iremen. In their strenuous efforts to stay the flames several men had the hair and whskers singed and their clothing scorched.
 The Loss.
 The losses incurred are as follows:
 Mrs. W. w. Wilson, hotel, s25OO.
 Tate, household goods, $1000; partly in- sured
 Dr. w. D. Caldwell, house, $500; furni- ture, 5000, horse $20O: partly insured.
 W, J. Stacey, house sS0O household goods and buggy 5000; partly insured.
 Old Methodist church, $500.
 William Montgomery, house and house. hold goods, s125O; partly insured
 J. L. Conley, three houses and house. hold goods, 5000; partly insured.
 ]. w. Sanford two houses 5000.
 Mrs. William Jenkins, five houses $2500. Mrs. Brown. house destroyed by dyna- mite: value $500.
 Mrs. White, household goods, $500.
 The Pathetic Side.
 The conflagration was not entirely with out It's pathetic side. About dusk several wagonloads of children drove Into the desolate town. after spending the day at a picnic on the mountain, making the streets fairly ring with shouts. They had no idea that large portion of the city was in ashes. Their hats were bedecked with wild blossoms and their young hearts were gay When the same children were informed that their homes had been swept away by the flames their shouts turned into moans.
 This is the first time In the history Of this prosperous mining town that it has suffered such a disastrous loss, but the citizens are going about with vigorous determination to rebuild the devasted portion of the town.