The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-30
Flames Ate Up 4,bOO
 Bales of Cotton.
ORIGIN IS NOT KNOWN
Plant of Alabama Compress
 and Storage Company.
Wire Discovered at 8 O'Clock, A. M.. Ragged Throughout the Day - Bremen Hampered by Low Pressure.
 Plant Will Be Rebuilt.

In the most disastrous fire Mont gomery has experienced In recent years, the plant of the Alabama Com press and Storage Company, near Riv- erside park. was completely destroyed yesterday morning with 4.600 bales of cotton, entailing a loss of $400,o00.
 The great loss Is nearly all covered by insurance. small main and low water pressure seriously hampered the work of the flremen and made possi- ble the complete destruction of the plant which is said to have been the most substantial and the best equipped compress property in the South.
 It will be rebuilt immediately
 The origin of the destructive fire is unknown. The platform on the east ern end of the compress was discov- cred by the nightwatchman ablaze at three o'clock yesterday morning. The watchman, with some men he was able to summon to his assistance. tried to subdue the flames, but they were beat en back in the struggle.
 A call was sent to the fire depart naent for immediate help. The plant is situated over a mile from the Madi- son Avenue station and by the time the engines, carts and wagons had made the long run the flames had with lightning speed run over the infiam- mable material which filled the ware houses of the compress and had gained firm foothold on the wooden plat form, posts and girders. Bremen and spectators say that even if the water supply had been adequate, the doom of the splendid property was written in the leaping, cracking flames when the firemen arrived on the scene.
 Burning of 4,0OO Bales.
 The condition of the cotton trade made the fire most disastrous one. The store rooms and warehouses were packed high with cotton for future sale and delivery. The 4,600 bales " that filled these warehouses and store rooms, in themselves represented q : great fortune.
 The property that Is the plant and the machinery, was valued at $S0,000. Being insured for $65.ooO. The great stores of cotton which were totally de- stroyed were owned by cotton firms operating in Montgomery. Tho largest losers of cotton were the F. B. Fiskp Cotton Company, Marks & Gayle, and George H. McFadden and Brother. Sc far as could be learned yesterday all the cotton was insured.
 The fire probably gave the Mont gomery Fire Department the hardest days work in its history. Hurried from their beds at 3:10 o'clock a. m., the firemen fought hopelessly against the conquering flames through the early morning hours until the sun was high in the heavens. Until late In the afternoon the ruins blazed and smol- dcred. Thousands of people during the day visited the scene of the great fire.
 The confiagration was attended by no injury or loss of human life
 When the Montgomery ire depart ment reached the compress, the flames were beyond their control, if the series of mishaps, which made 1t impossible to stem the tidal wave of flames, had not occurred.
 The engines halted within twenty yards of the cotton platform and in the shortest possible time two lines of hose were in position to play on the flames.
 The Work of the Firemen.
 But the hose was useless. Strenu- ously the engines pumped but the streams which issued from the noz- gels of the pipes could not throw ten feet. The plucky laddies disregardine the intense heat, advanced to the very edge of the fire and allowed the streams to trickle on the furious bIazes.
 The entire sky was illuminated, ant the reflection told all Montgomerians
 
 morning exactly what property was be. ing destroyed. The entire Nortf Montgomery neighborhood was arous ed and the people attempted to give tho firemeR what assistance they could.
 At one time 1t became necessary tS move the engine that was furnishins the power for the stream on the eas end of the fire to a private plug nearer the fire, and from which 1t was though ha
 A prominent cotton man was at tn, spoke of one wheel of the engine. help ing a railroad hand push the heav, vehicle. fireman and a policeman tugged at the spOkes of any wheel while a newspaper man had hold O the tongue of the engine guiding 1t t, the plug
 After the first half hour of excite ment, all but the firemen and one O two cotton men. vitally interested gave up all hope and effort and rangins themselves on the ground within th, glare of the fire, stoically watche, $400000 worth of property go up fl smoke.
 The fremen worked hendishly Blocked by the lack of water pressure they turned their attention to savin, what property they could with bab cocks and axes.
 Fire was discovered a few minutes after o'clock by the night watchmal in the South end of the building nex to the cotton platform. An attemp was made by him and gang of mel to extinguish the fire before send ing In an alarm. A brisk wind iron the Southwest was blowing at tn time however and the fire. was in few seconds beyond their controle Beaten by the blaze. the watchman rai to a telephone. The alarm was receiV ed at the fire station at 3:10 o'clocI over the telephone. and the mess2S was that the Blue Store in Vesuviu was the scene of the blaze. Before fire trucks reached the scene of tn fire however. Box 72. located at tn compress was received.
 All of the fire apparatus of the fir department with the exceptions of tn hook and ladder truck went to th blaze which hay by the time assume alarming proportions and was illumir ating the sky. By the time the fire men reached the fire after the ,ru