The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-20
HOUSTON, TEX., HAS MILLION DOLLAR FIRE Flames Sweep Business Sec
 tion of the City DEFECTIVE WIRIN G Bremen of Opinion That Overloaded Wires Cause-No Lives Lost.
 Linotype Operator Discov-
 cred the Blaze
DEFECTIVE WIRIN

Houston, Tex, May 19.-Fire broke out in the upper Main street business district shortly before o'clock this morning and by ' o'clock had caused a loss approximating sl.o0o.000.
 It originated in the Stowers build Ing, large six-story building owned by II. Masternson and occupied by the Stowers Furniture company, and the A. Lipper Millinery company.
 Bremen are of the opinion that the cause was due to defective wiring, aid ed by overheated wires, and that 1t started in the upper floor of the Lipper establishment.
 The alarm was turned in when a an upper story. It was discovered by linotype operator on the Post as he was en route home after finishing his nights work
 Fire Swifter Than Men
 The response of the firemen was quick, but when they arrived the build ing was aflame from top to bottom and tongues of fire were leaping out from every window. The rear wall of the building fell with a resounding roar within few minutes after the UT ciicii diIiNtu Oll l1t SCent, that the flames spread very qnickiy due to the character of the construc- tion of the building Chill construction and brick), aided by the inflammable nature of the stock of goods.
 For two hours the building was a raging furnace and the heat was so intense that 1t was not possible for the firemen to get near. However, several streams were soon playing from every vantage point.
 Light and telephone wires began to crackle and fall, and with them their pole supports, and the streets about this building and the adjoining were soon networks of fallen and hanging wires
 Wall after wall fell with a roar that could be heard for many blocks, while the flames lit up the heavens and made it light as day, covering a large area
 This, with the changing of fire bells, as general alarm after general alarm was turned in. the rattle of fire wagons to and fro. the yelling of commands by the fremen, the incessant footing of automobile horns, produced a scene like unto Dante's Inferno, and amid it all the people began to swarm from every direction.
 Wind Was Low
 The fire continued to rage It did not
 
 wind was low. The buildings adjoin- ing soon became affected as they did, the furnace becoming greater.
 Intense heat caused the flames to spread to the Temple building, across Capital avenue. and to the Latham building. just east; and to the Mason building to the south.
 The flames leaped up to the upper floors of the 10-story Jones building, DrcIlpipd hx { this building was not destroyed and the whole of the block endangered was due to the fact that this Is a fire proof structure. The damage to this building is very slight. In view of the position 1t occupied, and the heat that enveloped it.
 The Levy building, adjoining the Jones building. was damaged. but not to any great extent while the Mitchell building on Capital avenue. adjoining the Temple building, was damaged in front. The Capital hotel building was also slightly damaged. The heat was so intense at the 16-story Carter build ing, situated block away from the Stowers building, that many of the windows were broken. and the owners of the building for a time were un- easy lest the leap of the flames and the consuming heat should not be got ten under control before their hand some structure became doomed.
 Summary of Loss
 The Stowers building and the Latham building are in ruins. While some of the walls of the Mason building and the Temple building are intact the fire men do not believe any portion of these two can be saved. Hence their loss Is total.
 The following is 8 summary of the principal losses in the fire:
 Stowers building. $100.000: Stowers Furniture company. stock estimated sS0,oo0; A. Lipper. Inc. $25,000; Latham building. $50 900: Mason building. s100,- 900; Thomas Gogsan X Brother. $32. .000 Temple building, ss5.O00; S4 offices in the Temple and Mason buildings. esti- mated total loss. s40,000.