The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-08

Mercy In charge Of the institution were all at their posts. and an effort was made to keep the fact of the conhagration se- cret from the patients few cinders fell on the roof of the hospital. but were extingushed by the physicians of the house staff.
 Women Taken from Hospital.
 Eighteen women, two bablcs and seven nurses were taken from the Matertinite hospital on West Lombard street in police i ambufanees and given iquartera tt the city hospital
 At 3 o'clock a tremendous explosion of about 150 barrels of whisky, stored in the upper floors of No. 24 Hanover street hurled tons of burning matter across the street on the roofs of the buildings op- posite, where firemen were drenohing them with water, but soon ate into the buildings on the east side.
 Two truck wagons caught fire and were consumed, and an engine was buried by falling wall, the firemen fleeing for their lives.
 The whole city was notified of the con. flagration by a terrific explosion which occurred some minutes after II o'clock A sharp, splitting roar went up with rever- berating thunder. This was followed by peculiar whistling noise like that made by shrill wind.
 Churches Were Filled.
 The churches in the central section of the city were filled with worshippers. many of whom became frightened, and while no panic ensued hundreds of men and women left their seats ana went out side to see what had happened In a few moments the streets and pavements all over the city were crowded with excited people.
 Another deafening crash occurred, and dense columns of cinders and smoke shot up over the central section of the city, and in huge brown column moved rapid ly towards the northeast. Borne on the [ strong southeast wind, the column of smoke, burning cinders and even pieces of tin roofing spread over the center of the city, and a rain of cinders fell, compelling pedestrians to dodge red-hot pieces of wood.
 Two more explosions followed and thousands of people hurried to the scene of the fire. Of all spectators compara- lively few saw the fire itself. They could not get within half a block of 1t. Even the policemen assisting the firemen with their apparatus to the fire had to re- peatedly shift their positions and dodge falling cnders.
 Tin Floats In the Ar. Pieces of tin six by eight feet square were lifted into the air by the terrific heat. sailed upward like paper kites, and when they reached a point beyond the zone of the most intense heat, fell clat- tering to the streets.
 The firemen and police. who were com peled to stick to their dangerous posts dodged into doorways for shelter from the rain of hot missiles. Crash after crash could be heard within the burning district, but even the firemen could not tell from what building they proceeded. In the seething furnace of flames, all sense of the direction or location of burn ing buildings was lost Walls and floor ing fell in thunderous roars that echoed for blocks away.
 Among the buildings consumed are the following:
 Buildings Consumed. Roxbury Rye Distilling company; Allen & Sons. feathers; Sugar & Sheat cloth ing; Stein & Co.,, umbrella manufactur- CTS; M Friedmans & Sons; Stockin & Co.,, dry goods: Swartz Toy company, Mullins hotel: Bergunder Bros, clothing; Mass & Kemper, manufacturers of con fectioners tools; Louis Lowry company. dry goods; Dry Goods exchange; s. Neu- berger & Bro, dry goods: A. Sauber. clothing and sponging establishment; A. C. Meyer & Co.,, druggists; Carrollton Chemical company: William T. Dixon & Bro, wholesale paper; Burger Co.,, wholesale clothing; Blanke's saloon Thomas Burke & Co.,. liquors; James A. Gary & Sons, cotton mills office: Charles Burger & Co.,. wholesale clothing: Amer ican Cigar company; Cook Sanderson. To- (contInued on Second Panel