The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-06-23
'. M. C. A. BUILDING
 DAMAGED BY FIRE
PRIDE OF SELMA SERIOUSLY THREATENED YESTERDAY-A MONSTER BARBECUE FOR BEN EFT OF LI5RARY-oTHER NEWS

Selma. June 22-Just before the stroke of this morning a volume of smoke fol- lowed by tongues of flame, poured out of the second-story windows of the Y. M c. A. building on Broad street, opposite the Hotel Albert. The building, a three story structure, is the pride of the city, having been built by popular subscription some fifteen yeers ago at cost of about $25,000, and soon the street was filled with citizens viewing with anxiety the work of the volunteer fire department, which had responded to the alarm with alacrity.
 Two streams were quickly gotten on the building m front and one in the rear and the flremen, though volunteers, went into the building. which was almost fur race, like regulars, In fifteen minutes the flames were under control, and the build ing left with orly two or three thousand dollars damage to the wood work and ceilings and to the furniture by water.
 The origin of the fire is 8 mystery. Uncle Henry" the jsnitor was cleaning up in the reading room on the south side of the building, when he noticed the room filling with smoke He says he went tc the door leading to the steps going down to the rear and as he opened 1t the flames burst through. He hastened in the ratatorium to get bucket of water, and when he came back he could not get fin the flames eirseing his hair as he at tempted it. There was very little wood work burned on the rear stairway, the main damage seeming to be done in the foyer at the head of the main stairway leading from the streets. The fire had more the appearance of having been caused by some explosive or of building filled with gas which had ignited.
 Insurance wil. completely cover the damage.
 Monster Barbecue Held.
 At Elkdale Park today has been held monster barbecue for the benefit of the book fund of the Carnegie Library which will soon be finished. Just how many people have been fed will not be known until the tickets are counted, but upwards of thousand. The profits will be over $500 and the sponsors for the project have every reason to feel proud.
 Three Runaways Arrested.
 This morning about 5 o'clock Officer Holt arrested three white boys upon the arrival of a freight train. telephofle message from Anniston last night stated that the boys had boarded the train in that city about o'clock and to please hold them. The boys gave their names as Shinn. Davenport and FalIon and were between twelve and fifteen years of age. A telegram this morning asked only for the holding of Shinn, and he is being held awaiting the arrival of his father
 Negro Girl Missing.
 Annie Lacky. negro girl, is missing and all sorts of wild and woolly specua- tive stories are afioat as to her where abouts' among the colored population.
 The girl has been employed with the family of -1r. w. w. Baton and left the house at 2 o'clock last night She has not shown up at home since and last night about midnight her mother began search for her. She is only 13 years of age and her disappearance cannot be explained. The authorities are inclined to believe 1t is just case of running away from home