The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-04-15
LOSS WILL AMOUNT
TO ABOUT $25, 900
Entire Plant of the F1oriC
and Alabama Land CT
pany Was For A Tn
Threatened With d.
struction = Fire Chie1
Bicker Rendered Valuable
Aid During Conflagration.

A spark from q smOkestack caused
the destruction of sixty thousand feet
of lumber and two dry kilns at the
plant of the florida and Alabama Land
Company at Bayou Chico yesterday
afternoon.
At o'clock the fire was DISCOVERIES
in kiln No. 1, and at daylight this
morning the flames had not been ex-
tinguished, although a stubborn fight
was made for many hours by a large
force of hre-fighters. The loss is esti-
mated at $4,000. with insurance OF
$1,000
When the fire was discovered the
management of the company realized
that their apparatus would not be
adequate to handle the situation, and
Chief Bicker, of the 1re department.
was telephoned and requested to rem
der some assistance. A fire engine
and truck was Immediately dispatched
to the scene.
In the meantime the FIRE had gained
considerable headway and when Chief
BtclSer arrived he saw that he had
hard fight on his hands to save the big
plant. A strong wind was blowing
and as the big red flames shot slIyrward
they were eating their way to the
main building.
The steamer was put to work and
soon several streams OF water We're
poured into the burning kilns but s. lfas
little or no effect. The dry pine lum-
Der in the buildings was easy prey.
In fact, It was seen at a glance that
there was no possible chance to save
the two immense buildings. The only
hope held out to Chief Bicker was to
save the adjoining buildings. and at
times that seemed very uncertain.
BIG CROWDS GATHERED.
Hundreds OF people gathered to wit
ness the great confagration. for ie
was rumored throughout the city that
the entire lumber plant was being con-
stunned Late into the night the spec
tators watched the great volumes OF
smoke and the flames as they nIuna-
lrated the country for niles around
The mill, formerly known as the
Brent mill, is located on the bay at
Bayou Chico, situated on picturesque
strip Of land that juts. out into the
bayou It is now owned by the Florida.
md Alabama Land Company, the Of
1cers being W. X. Hyer. president,
and A Marion Hyer. superintendent
md ice-president.
In the two kilns, which were valued
1t about $4,000 each, was stored some
hing more than $4,000 feet Of pine
lumber. The two buildings and their
contents are practically a total loss.
When sesn by a Journal reporter
at the scene OF the IRE, A.
Marion Hyer said: 'SOf course ft Will
,e impossible to correctly estimate the
oss just now. It depends altogether
whether or not we wiz be able 70 con-
Inc the fire to the two lcllns. The
buildings are valued at about $4,000
,ach and we had about so. 600 feet OF
unber stored in them" Mr.. Hyer also
aid that the property was insured
Chief Bfcker and his men worked at
great disadvantage for a time, as the
My water which was procursble was
hat from the bayou, and that they
ould not use in the fire steamer. They
i'd effective work. however, and were
he recipients Of much praise from
he officers OF the lumber company.
It was one Of the most destructive
res which has occurred IN this vicinity
OF many months, entailing a loss OF
ot less than $25, 900.