The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-13
Mobile. Feb. 12.-(special)--At 1O:4


 Mobile. Feb. 12-(speciaL)--At 1o:45 o'clock tonight fire was discovered in the Battle House, the largest hotel in the city and at midnight the hand some building is in ruins.
 An alarm from box 13 called the en- tire department. Within fifteen min utes 1t was seen the immense building was doomed. The entire fire fighting force got busy and used every effort to stem the flames which at il o'clock were entirely confined to the top floor. The steamers worked hard and the aerial truck was used to no avail. The location of the fire made 1t very difi- cult for the department to handle.
 Immediately after the fire was dis covered, the alarm was given to all the inmates of the hotel and all es- caped. many, however, leaving their effects behind them.
 It had been raining all day and was raining when the fire was discovered. but this did not appear to have any eftect or the flames, which rapidly ate their way downward into the heart of the handsome structure.
 A stiff wind was blowing from the north and fears were at once enter tained for the entire block.
 The new Battle House. recently re- habilitated at a nenormous cost by William Wizard of New Orleans. was total wreck. The large five story building. which for more than half century has occpied nearly three eighths of the block bounded by Roy al, Water, Dauphin and St. Francis streets is a ruin. The fire was discov- cred in the upper part of the building and before the fire department could respond to the general alarm the whole roof was in flames.
 The Battle House. since the many improvements were made was valued at $45O,OOO. With the new appurten- ances it was considered one of the finest hotels in the South.
 So sudden was the general alarm to the occupants of the many rooms of the hostelry that 1t was impossible for many to gather up their effects. One man, wealthy and largely interested in Mobile property. offered $500 to any man who would go to his room on the fourth floor and bring out his papers. He found no taker.
 Thousands of gallons of water at o'clock were being poured into the building with hopes of conining the flames there. The wind at that hour continued from the north, and great sparks were being blown over the buildings in that and adjoining blocks.
 Chief Price at o'clock. said that if he could hold his own. he wo'ld keep the fire within the walls of the Rattle House
 The indications were that the house had been burning some time when dis covered. The flames were discovered by the cook in several empty rooms ot the big hotel which had been used for storage purposes. The cook at once notified Night Clerk Cherry, who began the work of arousing the guests, or whom there were 147 This work was accomplished by operating an annun- ciator in his office connected with bells fin all the rooms, and by the bell-boys who ran from room to room, crying the dread news.
 Some member of the police force turned in the alarm to the department and the response was prompt.
 In less than ten minutes the rooms of the hotel were emptied of their oc- cupants.
 Two elevator boys in the employ of the hotel are genuine heroes. Their names are Constantine and Parks and they stuck desperately to their work notwithstanding the choking smoke which filled their eyes and lungs. Parks was slightly burned. |.