The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-09

l JOSS was pIto,UUU dflu IS pdItlN
 Those injured in the fire numbered . great many, but none were serious enough to be removed to an infirmary with the exception of A. s. Milbrat, a clerk in the timekeeper's office, who was slightly burned and taken to St. Vincent's hospital in Johns ambu-
 lance. MT. Milbrat only remained at the infirmary about one hour and then went to his home.
 Others slightly injured were Fred Underwood, brother of Oscar w. Un- derwood, who to save his life slid down an elevator cable four floors and lac erated his hands badly, and several firemen slightly hurt by falling brick. There were no spectators injured. The fire is said to have originated in . the basement near the elevator shaft. | It is stated that the elevator bearings and shaft was soaked with oil from . long usage and that in some manner
 some waste paper caught fire in the basement and then was communicated . to the elevator shaft and to all the ' floors of the building. This Is the cause . generally accredited by officials of the
 company who vehemently deny that a I gas explosion occurred or that any
 gas leaked into the building and fed ' the flames.
 Bennett Reticent Fire Chief A. ". Bennett was reti- cent last night about stating his opin- | ion of the cause of the fire. but he . said that in his opinion gas had some / thing to do with the blaze or it could not have spread so quickly. The fire men on the scene all stated that there were several explosions that blew out windows and were plainly heard. How ever, Manager Montgomery of the gas department of the company stoutly- I maintained last night that there was I no gas leakage and that in his 25 ] years experience as gas expert that A he had never heard of a gas explosion. ! and that such d thing was impossible Il City officials and company officials ] will investigate the cause of the fire 4 this morning. Coroner Charles L. Spain ! also will conduct an Investigator, he \ stated, at an early hour ths morning. ! The fire eutted the buildings occu- 4 pied by the general offices of the Bir-
 \ mingham Railway. Light and Power I company and that of Johnson Brothers.
 l wholesale dry goods merchants. The ! alarm was turned in at 4:21 o'clock Many Reported Missing ] Throughout the time the buildings were I fieroely burning there was much anxiety I expressed on all sides for many men and \ women reported missing, but as hour T after hour went and employees of the com pany located the missing one by one it I was soon seen that Moody Childcrs and Henry s. Kyser were the only two men \ that had been killed. It is stated by the II company officials that undoubtedly all I the employees in the building had been rescued but Childers and kyser. How ever, the firemen state that there are some bodies in the ruins. but Chief Ben 4 nett who investigated the report at a 4 late hour last night, said that it was II highly improbable.
 As there was no inquiries last night T for missing ones at late hour to the company's officials, it seems an assured | fact that the toll of death is only Moody 3 Chiders and Henry $. kyser. There will be thorough search of the \ ruins this morning to see if there are any \ bodies in them.
 Il Temporary Offices
 
 1 This morning temporary offices of the 3 Birmingham Railway. Light and Power I company will be installed in the old Jef- 4 ferson County Bank and Savings build | ing at the corner of Second avenue and | 1wenty-first street Many of the im- portant records are, of course destroyed but all of the contracts of the company
 are locked up in the vault which is fire- Il proof.
 Manager Montgomery of the gas de-
 partment will have his offices at the gas plant.
 I Manager Underwood of the electric de- partment will have his offices at the S power plant.
 Manager DeWindt of the transportation department will have his offices at the | car barns.
 i A. Fl. Ford, president of the company 4 is on his way from New York, and is | due to arrive in the city tomorrow morn i ing.
 i The gutted buildings were insured by I the Jemison-Seibles company in the fol- | lowing amounts:
 Building occupied by Johnson Bros, | wholesale dry goods merchants, insured