The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-15
$4,000 FIRE
in WEST END
Pharmacy, Barber Shop
aud Two Cottages.
ACCIDENT TO ENGINE
Fire Horses Ran Into Side
walk and One Hurt.
Three Families LEFT Homeless by n
CsnaaSration of Uncertain ORR
gin-Beil street Was
the Scene.

The West End Pharmacy, the West
End barber shop, and two, cottage resi-
dences were destroyed by,a fire which
night The loss is estimated at $4,000,
covered by probably $4,000 insurance.
The pharmacy occupied the combina-
tion store and dwelling house at I'll
Bell Street. and the barbor shop was
in similar building at 713 Bell Street.
The scene of the fire was directly across
the street from the big plant of the
Peoples Cotton Factory.
/ The leaping flames reflected a bright
light against the midnight skies. in
idicating a great fire in the manufac
turing section, and in response TO a
Telephone call, every part Of the apa-
ratus of the Montgomery Fire Depart
tme1N hurried to the scene.
Fire Horse Hart.
While dashing through Bell Street
Just west of the big railroad bridge and
near Venable's store, the two fine black
horses. Tim" and Black" drawing
the engine of the Five Points Company,
swerved to the righ1, and, before their
speed was stopped the engine was
dragged into a deep kgutter, the engine
pole struck a tree and the horses fell.
None of the firemen was injured but
about the head and may have to be
killed. This horse fell under his COM
/ panion, and 1t is believed the other
horse struck him in the head with his
hoofs.
The horse were quickly sent back to
the city and placed under the care of
Capt Jack Cook, City Superintendent
of Live Stock
Residents of the neighborhood in
- .A 4. a. M
1T originated in the barber shop at 713
BELL Street. and that the interior of
this building was a sheet of flames be-
fore the alarm was given. The barber
shop is in the front of long, low
new cottage of eight rooms The build
ing is owned by F. Bedside and the
barber shop was owned by 7. j. Swear
ingen. policeman. The portion of the
house used as n residence was occupied
by two families-W. P. Owens and Alex
J. MCGEE
When the fire department reached
the scene the fire had leaped over 20
the West End Pharmacy at Ill Bell
Street and was threatening the pretty
new cottage of Patrolman Swearingeu
adjacent on the East side but separat-
ed by a vacant lot
A large crowd of mill operatives and
citizens had gathered. but the flames
had advanced so far and the fire was
SO hot that these citizens were helpless
to render assistance.
Families Had Narrow Escape.
Every bit of the household goods and
furniture of the MCGEE and Owens fam
lilies were destroyed. Indeed the MEM
bers of these families barely had time
to escape from the burning building.
The firemen adjusted their hose and
turned their attention to checking the
progress of the flames, while citizens
gave assistance to the family of D.
Hughson. who lived in the five-room
cottage. a part of the drug store. A
portion of the furniture and household
effects of the Hughson family was
soved.
The building occupied by the West
End Pharmacy and the family of Mr..
Hughson was owned by j. A. Reaves,
who conducts a store in the neighbor-
hood. The pharmacy was conducted
by ID. Hughson and DIR. Milligan. 1t
was neatly furnished with modern APP
pliances and the firm carried a stock
of goods valued at about $1,000. The
pharmacy. including the stock and fur
nishings. it was said, represented an
investment of $4,000
MIR. Reaves said the building cost
about $1,000 and was insured He
could not say without reference to his
policies what was the amount of the
insurance. The pharmacy also had in
surance.
The building at 713 Bell Street, own
Ell py Mr.. BEDSIDE, was valued at about
$1,000 and was insured for 81, 900. There
was no insurance on the barber shon
and the MCGEE and Owens families had
no insurance. They were left home
less and practically without clothing.
Mr.. McGehee drives a wagon for the
Standard Oil Company Mr.. Owens Is
employed by the Atlantic Coast Line.
This is the third time buildings Mt