The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-30
THREE BURNED BY
 HOLIDAY FIRES Santa Claus Has Narrow Es-
 cape in Pensacola SITE FOR CITY BUILDING The City Fathers Have Decided to Pur- chase Property Which Is Admir- ably Located for the Purpose.
 Other Pensacola News.
SITE FOR CITY BUILDING

Pensacola, December 9.-(special)-- Christmas day was ideal from meteor ologica point of view-ciear and just suf- ficient frost in the air to make 1t brac- ing and healthful This was very rare for the season, and as result. nearly every one spent as much time as possible out of doors.
 Santa Claus, for some reason, was late in making his public appearance here, and when he did arrive sad mishap befell him. He came in on the eve of the 26th. and stopped in at q Sunday school cele- bration at the East End Baptist church. He was just beginning to hand the pres ents from the tree to the expectant little ones, when his hoary beard caught fire i from one of the candles among the branches. Before he could tear off the mask, c. D. Smith, who personated the saint, was very painfully burned about the face and neck
 Another victim of the flames now lies at the point of death, in the person of Mrs Mark Boghich She was burning trash in her yard on the 22nd, and her dress was ignited from the burning pile. Before she discovered it she was a mass of flames, her clothing being burned liter ally from her body. She was taken into the house, and everything possible was done for her, but it is feared that there is no hope of her recovery. Her husband, who is an engineer on the N O. and M. division of the Louisville and Nashville was away from home at the time of the 1 occurrence, but was immediately notified and returned at once.
 Miss Annie Allen, while standing before the fire, was painfully burned on tn
 18th, by her dress catching fire from the grate. The flames were extinguished as soon as discovered, but not before her arm and hand had received very severe | scorching.
 Attempt to Burn Building.
 An attempt was made to burn the 1 Thieseh building early Christmas eve morning, and but for the discovery of 1 the flames by the night operators in the telephone office, and their prompt call of 1 the fire department, Pensacolas only cred l itable building would probably have been totally destroyed. The fire seems to have 1 originated on the second floor in a portion of the building used by S. H. Kress x l Co.,, as q wareroom, the firms store being 1 on the first floor immediately underneath. The damage to stock offices and build l ing will aggregate $l5,000. The safe in ! Kress store was found opened, the door having been pried off the hinges. and about SS35 in cash taken which proves l eonclusively that the burglar either in- tentionally or accidentally set fire to the premises
 F. II. Johnson of New York mem Der of the firm, is in the city, and will use every effort to run down the criminal.
 Mrs. r. c. Brent died at her home, on i the night of the 24th. She had been in l i'll health for many months, and while it i was known that her malady must have d fatal ending, her death cast q pail of gloom over many homes in this city. where she has spent her whole life and ] made a host of friends by her many ad- mirabe traits of character. She leaves a husband and twelve children besides many relatives and friends to mourn her loss.
 For several days the city has been l somewhat aroused over the declared in- tention of some members of the city coun- l eil to work for the erection of the new city hall on the plaza. The contention i was that, as the city owned this site, and 1t could not be equalled for the pur pose, it would be folly to purchase an- other, not so suitable. at cost of many thousands of dollars. But public sentiment against the obliteration of about the only l historical spot of ground left in the pos session of the people was too much for l the city fathers so they decided to buy ] up some lots forming the block bounded by Jefferson. Tarragona Commandancia 1 and Church streets, and erect the new public buildings there. The site is an ex- cellent one, and the members of the coun- ell are to be commended for this dis l play of sense But not so much to their ] credit was the action taken at former meeting relative to the contemplated ex l penditure of the money to be derived from i the city bonds-still unsod. To go back some years: While waiting for bids for l the sale of bonds. under former admin ] istraton the city council had a firm of sanitary engineers from New York send men down to make surveys, take levels. make plans, etc, for the sewerage of i the city This was done at heavy expense I and by engineers with q national reputa- ! ton. The city did not sell the bonds, but has the plans. Now this new adminstra l ton comes in, and employs an expert, d i consulting engneer-what you will--pays l his travelling expenses and $50 per day to 1 look over these plans for flaws or er- 1 TOTS, and in case he finds any he is to ] get sl200 for making corrections.
 The first notice of another political time I In the old town was served on the dear people recently by the announcement of ] John $. Beard for state senator. He was followed very soon by J. Campbell Avery, the juvenile father of the Jim Crow law" that bears his name and that was so soon turned down by the supreme