The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-29
.BESSEMER SUFFERS
FROM RAIN STORM
Telephone Companies Sustain
the Greatest Less
STREET CARS ARE BLOCKED
Valley Creek Doing Much Damage
MlstrlaI Declared In George Nelson
case-H. E. Brumby 5uys
Oldest Rolling Mil,
STREET CARS ARE BLOCKED

Bessemer, September &.-(Speclal)-
Bessemer has been visited during the
past two days with the most terrific storm
In years. A high gale blew all last night
and caused much Inconvenience and de-
struction. Nearly all the telephones are
out of service A tree fell across the ca
bles on Third avenue breaking many con-
neotions. The wires to Jonesboro are dead
and the companies are seriously handi-
capped by the need of sufficient linemen.
Last night at 10 o'clock the electric plant
went out of commission and was not re-
paired until this morning,
Although the streets of the city proper
are well drained by the new storm sewer
there was great suffering In the outly-
ing districts Water backed UP Into the
houses and in one or two cases washed
away the foundations. No wagons could
leave the town after o'clock.
The car which left Bessemer at 10
o'clock was water bound at Brighton
for five hours by the back water from
Valley creek, which had swollen to the
size of a river and was running across
the tracks at Smiths crossing.
The current failed on the south line,
leaving the town with no connection to
Birmingham.
At o'clock the creek again rose two
feet above the roadbed and when car
attempted to pass, the water got into the
motor, burning 1t out and charging the
car with electricity. Passengers and mo-
torman received rigorous shock but no
one was injured. The car service was
discontinued for the night.
City Court.
After the busiest day of the session,
city court adjourned tonight. Early this
morning the jury in the case of the state
against VIII Stage found the defendant
not guilty. Then followed the cases of
j. S. Brophy, Mary Baker and Jim Good
win. all of whom were acquitted The jury
in the case of Sally Martin charged with
assault with weapon upon Rosa Flum-
mer. is still out. The trial of George D.
Nelson, charged with the murder of
Thomas MCGEE, was reset for next month
The jury has been locked three days and
reported that a decision could not be
reached. A mistrial was declared.
Monday the non-jury criminal docket
comes up before Judge Jackson, and will
be followed on october by the jury
civil cases. A recess will then be taken.
Brlerfield Rolling Mill.
H. e. Bumby, the proprietor of thpsBes-
semer Scrap Iron company, returned to-
day from Montevallo, where he closed q
deal for the Brierfield rolling mill, the
oldest mill in Alabama, having been con-
structed before the civil war. One Of tile
old steam engines, very complicated
piece of mechanism, bears the name of the
first stock company, THE Confederate
Rolling Mill company" Since that time
the plant has often changed hands and
many thousands Of dollars have been
invested, but never with any success
Mr.. Bumby intends to sell the motors,
foundry machinery and other large pieces
separately as secondhand material while
the other is doomed to the scrap pile A
number of bids have been received aggre-
eating much more than the cost of the
plant. which was 5000. The scrap iron
company expects to reap handsome
profit
Notes and Personals.
]. C. Vines of the Vines Jewelry COM
pany who went to St Louis several days
ago to purchase his Christmas stock. in
tended to return tonight, but is water
bound at Morris, Ala, on the Louisville
and Nashville railroad.
w. b. Watson has returned from Haley
Vile, Ala, where he visited relatives and
gained two weeks of needed rest He Is
much improved.
The city officers and policemen who
were elected last Wednesday received
their commissions this morning and will
qualify next Monday before the police
commission. The term of one year begins
at that time.
The people of Brighton are happy over
the advantages of the storm sewer which
has just been connected. For the first
time in years they were not flooded by
the hard rains
The docket in the police court this morn
ing was small Two cases were continued
until morning.