The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-03
Results of Commerce Street Blaze. THE WESTERN UNION
 WAS NOT INSURED MT. Gay Has Not Formed Plans
 For Rebuilding. Heroism of Policemen and Firemen in Saving Lives is the Talk of Mont gomery--Justice Beasiey
 was Not Hurt.

Telegraph facilities into Montgom- cry were yesterday seriously impaired by the destruction of the Western Union office by the early morning fire which practically destroyed two three- story brick buildings on the corner of Commerce and Bibb Streets.
 The losses by the fire will probably reach S75,000. and most of this loss is covered by insurance The Western Union Telegraph Company will be the heaviest sufferer. as that company car ried no insurance on It's valuable in- struments keyboards, batteries, etc.. which are total losses
 It will be remembered that at 2:25 o'clock yesterday morning. fire which originated in the third floor of the Gay building completely cut off the exit from the building and the lives of Mir and Mrs. B. J. Tilberry, Dixon Lewis. a welf-known cotton buyer. and his son, F1inn Lewis. were endan- gered By. the heroic efforts of Bicy- cle Patrolman J. F. Hammond and Spe- cupants of the building were enabled to escape, although several had to swing into the arms of the awaiting policemen from an improvised rope made of bed clothing.
 Some consternation was caused when Justice of the Peace S. H. Beas- leey. who rooms in the building, could not be discovered in his apartments A search was made for him. but he could not be found. Yesterday morning Judge Beasley. after spending the night with friend. returned to find his room wreck and his furniture destroyed.
 Heroism of Policemen. Montgomery people throughout the day paid tribute to Bicycle Patrolman Hammond and Special Officer Taylor. who rescued several people from death. The Chief of Police has taken oficial notice of the gallant conduct of his men. and 1t is probable that the Coun- ell will take action on their bravery.
 Throughout yesterday crowds of Montgomerians visited the scene of the confiagration, which came so near to robbing the city of several lives. The spot from which the partolmen climbed to rescue the occupants of the third floor of the building was visited by scores and admiration for the bravery of the policemen was heard on all sides.
 The property loss will not be known for several days. John F. Gay, the insurance man, who with his brothers and Thomas Davidson jointly owns the destroyed buildings, was yesterday un- able to give any estimate of his loss He said that he had been in bed prac- tically throughout the day and had not visited the scene of the fire.
 "All of my papers are in my office which was burned and I cannot tell the exact amount of our insurance. and I do not care to make an estimate of the property loss" said MT. Gay. I have not thought of what I will do with the property. may put up new build ings. If I find it possible I may re- pair the old ones. have not consid- cred the matter enough, however, to say anything"
 Western Unions Loss.
 C. A. Fonville, manager of the Mont gomery office of the Western Union Telegraph Company, with a large force of electrians, telegraphers and wire men. as soon as the fire was over, im- mediately began the complicated work of rearranging the wiring system and temporary connections had been made and by this morning the manager hopes to have the wires working in their us- ual shape.
 The Western Union has lost heavily" said Mir. Fonville. Practically all of the especially valuable apparatus of the office is destroyed and will have to be replaced. Much of this, Is especial ly manufactured and Is very costly. do not know whether any insurance was carried. but am of the opinion that there was none"
 For several hours all of the Mont gomery telegrams had to come by Pos tai wires and that office was nearly congested. The United States Weather Bureau Service was unable to get its bulletins from Washington and there was some little trouble in the market reports.
 The Other Losses.
 All of the offices and dwelling rooms in the Gay building were wrecked.
 I. Friedman, the large wholesale liquor dealer, whose stock was severely damaged by the fire, figures his losses at between $5.000 and $7.000. The sec ond and third floors on which were stored a large number of barrels of whiskey suffered the most and the bot ting plant in the rear of the store was practically destroyed. Mir. Friedman carried $l7.00O insurance.
 The stock of the Phoenix Auction Company. is a total loss. The estimated value of the stock Is between S7.00O and $S,000. The company carried $5,00O in- surance.
 4s theory grows that the fire origi- mated in the offices of Well Brothers, cotton buyers on the third floor of the Gay building, where a large bunch of sample cotton was stored. Mayor Teague said yesterday that 1t was probable that be would ask for legis- lation to prevent the storing of loose cotton m such a class of building, but declined to make a definite statement.