The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-24
SELMYS LOSS <IS $25,OOO Big Fire in Business
 District. ORIGINATED IN STABLE Department Stores and Shoe
 House Suffered. Carnegie Library and New Court House Were Threatened, but Work of
 Department and Citizens
ORIGINATED IN STABLE

Selma, Sept 23.--(Special)-A few minutes before 8 o'clock tonight, fire broke out in Marshalrs livery sta bles. on Lauderdale Street, between Selma and Alabama Streets. which is in the heart of the business portion of Selma, and almost opposite the new court house, which, for time, threat ened the destruction of the leading business block in the city. The dam age Is conservatively estimated tonight at from $22,000 to $30,000, partly GOV tired by insurance.
 From the best accounts. the fire orig- mated in the second story Of the staple In some feed, that was placed there dur ing the afternoon. The blaze had gain ed much headway before detected. and was almost ready to burst through the roof of the building before the hre alarm was turned in. At this timc about fifty horses and mules were guar tered in the stable, and no one "as present but a negro waterman, who was so frightened that he did not know what action to take.
 The minute the first alarm sounded two young business men residing near by. W. W. Echard and Clarence Boggs, rushed into the burning structure and with pocket knives, cut loose the horses and mules and drove them from tho burning building. The fire department lost no time in reaching the scene, and when the first stream of water was turned on the stable, 1t looked as though the entire block was doomed to destruction.
 The wind was blowing from the northeast, and for this reason the de. partment managed, after a half hours hard work, to conquer the fire and to keep 1t within the block in which 1t originated The wind was blowing directly toward the handsome new court house and the Carnegie Library. and for short time it was thought that these buildings might be lost.
 Business Houses Caught.
 The business houses at the rear of the stable caught fire several times, and it required desperate work to prevent inc destruction of these buildings. which face on BroadsSfreet. These stores are occupied by the Young shoe Company. Leipold Bros, and Frohlich & Hertz. and their stock of goods were badly damaged by the water and smoke.
 The windows in the rear Of these stores were broken by the streams or water turned on to extinguish the blaze as the buildings caught several times. The livery stable which was run by C. T. Marshall was totally des- troyed. including number of very valuable vehicles stored on the second floor and a large quantity of feed and a drove of hogs.
 MT. Marshall's loss Is estimated with in the neighborhood of S4,o00. The building was owned by Leon Clay and was insured at about $12,o00. The stock was insured for only $1,ooo.
 The D. R. Vicker's wagon storage house corner of Lauderdale and Selma Streets which was owned by the First daEtrnVad building was valued at $1,500 and covered by insurance.
 The stock of goods on the second floor of the Young Shoe Company. ac- cording to the manager was damaged to the extent of $5,000 by water and smoke. This loss Is covered by insur- ance Stock of goods in the big depart ment store of Leipold Bros was great ly damaged but no estimate of the loss could be made tonight. It is thought, however, that the loss will not fall be- stock while badly damaged will not amount to as much as the other two stores. The fire created the greatest excitement and almost the entire popu- lation of Selma was present. City in Darkness. Horses and mules could be seen run ming in every direction and all classes of citizens were rushing to and fro drawing vehicles which had been rescu ed from the burning building. On ac- count of falling wires in front of the burning buildings an order was issued to have the current cut off and the city was left in darkness for nearly an hour and the street car traffic was sus- pended.
 The fire department was highly com | mended for the excellent work which they accomplished in checking the l spread of the flames to adjoining build | ings.
 l For Disturbing worship. | It is given out on the best authority tonight that the grand jury today found a true bill against number of young people residing in Summerfeld for disturbing public worship. The charge was made before the grand jury. 1t is said. by the Rev. Mir Brown, pastor of the Methodist Church in Summerheld. and those indicted in- ciude members of the most prominent families in that suburb. The Adver- User correspondent interviewed several e,nbers of Rev. Browns congregation tonight and was informed that a few Sundays ago a dog entered the church during public services and was | kicked by a young man. The dog pro- ! tested by uttering a howl which inter l fered with the pastors sermon and several young people appeared to be more interested In the howl of the dog tnln they did in the preachers sermon. Rev. Brown therefore proceeded to inform these young people in no uncer- tain language just what he thought of
 their action and declared that he
 tould bring the matter before the
 grand fury and ask that the young peo- nIa he punished for disturbing public worship and if he report circulated to-
 night Is true. and it comes from an au- th 1ritative source, then the preacher hns been as good as his word.
 The members of the congregation a,r m in arms and declare the incident has not closed
 On account of scarcity of labor in
 the vicinity of Selma an immigration hnrsau is being organized in Selma by
 number of the leading citizens D. V Erickson. a Swede, has arrived in Ire citv and will assume charge of the hureau He has been residing in Flor
 cree for a short time and has induced
 may immigrants to settle In that sec
 ton of the State.
 M Mir Erickson is in close touch with