The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-29
FIRE DESTROYS SIX
FRAME DWELLINGS
Halt Block on Arlington Heights
Burned Yesterday
NOT IN The CITY LIMITS
Fire Started In Residence of Mrs. Ar
rlnaton and Spread RapidIy-Mys-
terry Surrounds the Origin
of the conflagration.
NOT IN The CITY LIMITS

Arlington Heights, at Thirty-third street
and Avenue G, was the scene of a disas-
trous fire yesterday at noon. One-half
of the block facing Thirty-third street,
between Avenues G and H, was destroyed
by the flames with the exception of one
building, and that was greatly damaged
Six nice residences were entirely con-
sumed Several barns and servants
houses were also destroyed.
The fire was outside the city limits, but
the two Southside fire companies re-
sponded to call and fought bravely to
save the buildings There was no water
close by and the firemen, therefore,
worked to great disadvantage. A high
wind favored the fire and in less than
two hours time the six buildings were in
ashes.
$4,000 Loss.
The total loss amounted to something
like $1,000, though the exact figures of the
Individual losses and the amount of insur-
ance could not be obtained.
The fire originated ON the roof of Mrs.
George C. Arrington's residence on the
southwest COlnGl u lhC bAOOh. hC IL .
was first discovered on the roof of the
cook room and it spread very rapidly.
Two two-story and four one-story
residences were consumed. G. NJ. Myers
one-story residence, standing in the
midst of the burned section. escaped with
no more damage than the loss of the roof
and slight injury to the walls. The loss
on this building amounts to about $500.
The fire passed over the roof of Mr..
Myers house to a two-story building just
beyond. This, with other buildings still
further on, was totally destroyed. The
escape of the Myers building seemed
miraculous.
Mrs. Arrington's loss was about $500,
with $1,000 insurance.
The next house to catch was that OF
Mrs ]. w. Webb, daughter of Mrs.
Arlington. Her loss was about $500, with
partial insurance.
A two story cottage belonging to Baines
brothers and occupied by Mrs. j. M
Cameron, was worth about $500; insur-
ance net Known.
The other three houses were one
story and were worth about $500 and
were occupied by ]. II. Johns, 1. o. Tur-
ner and Mrs. Il. A. Wright
Most of the furniture in the houses
except that of Mrs. Arlington, was saved
from the fire.
The buildings destroyed were all stylish
cottages, most of them owned by the
occupants
Mrs. Arrington's Statement.
A mystery surrounds the origin of the
fire. Mrs Arlington made the following
statement to The Age-Herald reporter
who called soon after the fire:
II was in the sitting room reading when
gentleman rushed in a few minutes
past y o'clock and told me that the house
was on fire. The fire was In the roof OF
the kitchen. There has not been a fire
in my cooking room since last Sunday al
noon. Just as we finished cooking dinner
last Sunday we discovered smoke COM
ing from between the stove pipe and the
ceiling
~ sent a young man up stairs to in
vestigate. He raised board on the 1ooi
but found no fire. The smoke had ceased
l was afraid to use the stove agar
and since that time have not allowed
a fire in It.
This morning I employed a workman
to take down the flue and make what
ever repairs he found necessary. He had
lust taken down the flue and gone tc
town for some material when the fire
was discovered I have had my cooking
done at a neighbor-s- house since Sun
day and have no idea whatever how
the fire could have originated"