The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-10
BESSEMER NEWS

Bessemer, November 9-(Special.)
 About PAS o'clock this morning the house
 owned by H. Y Lundie at 249 Exter ave- nue was totally destroyed by fire. while the adjoining houses, 2415 Exter avenue.
 owned by Mrs. Mckinney, and 2421, owned by J. G. and A. A. Thomas, were badly damaged Just how the fire originated is not known, but Mr. Lundie and his son were awakened by the roof falling in. The people occupying 8 part of the house barely escaped with their lives When the alarm was turned in the flames could be seem from the fire station and
 as there was a slight wind they were
 leaping high into the sky. MT. Lundie and his son escaped, but Mrs. Henry
 Henson and her two children, who lived
 in a portion of the house, were unable
 that the smoke was so dense they could not see. After making several attempts she let the children out the window in
 their night clothes and followed them.
 All of the household furnishings were destroyed and the damage to the iundie house is estimated at about 5000 The other houses were damaged to the ex-
 tent of 5000, making a total loss of s300e, partially covered by insurance.
 Some corporation has taken an option on the property of Joseph M. RutIedge at
 Rutledge Springs for $25,000. more than s200O per acre for the 12 acres. Much in terest is being manifested in this mat ter, for it is probable that the corpora tion taking the option on this land and much other in that vicinity will within a few years open up some big industry in that neighborhood Sometime ago rep resentatives from some corporation ap- preached MT. Rutledge and offered him $10,000 for his property. As Mir. Rutledge did not want to sell, he told the men he
 wouldn't take a cent less than s25, GOO
 After sometime the men returned stat ing that they wanted an option on the land at the price named by Mir. Rutledge
 The largest social affair given this sea-
 son was the reception this afternoon given by Mrs. George Ross at her home on Sixth avenue in honor of Mrs. John
 D. McNeel and Mrs. J. H. Foster, who
 have recently come from Montgomery to make their home in Birmingham The interior of the house was elaborately ar ranged for the occasion in ferns, smilax,
 English ivy and yellow chrysanthemums.
 The guests were met at the door by Mrs.
 J. s. Winters wearing blue chiffon aft ernoon gown, and Mrs. w P. Golson in white net over charmeuse The cards
 were received by little Miss Katherine and Miss Lucia Gillian, nieces of the hostess, who looked charming in white
 lingerie dresses and blue ribbons. In the living room was artisticaly arranged in green and white tones a large bow of tulle being tied on the chandelier. The receiving line was composed of Mrs. Ross
 in gray charmeuse; Mrs. McNeel in blue. chiffon and lace; Mrs. Foster, in laven- der net; Mrs. G.. F. Goodwin, in black beaded chiffon; Mrs. Tom Johnson, in
 yellow; chiffon, and Mrs. G. B. Hollings- worth, in lavender net Mrs. Cecil Cowan
 wearing a white afternoon gown, showed the guests into the dining room where
 the yellow and white tones prevailed A
 huge crystal vase of yellow specimen
 chrysanthemums stood in the center of
 the table while massive bowl of yellow tulle was suspended from the chandelier. Mrs. T. c. Mcdonald presided over the coffee urn while Mrs. F. w. McNeil
 poured tea, both wearing handsome white gowns. Sandwiches and cakes in the prevailing tones were served by Mrs. John Neal, in blue afternoon gown Mrs. c. O. Gray, in white net over yellow; Mrs. M. K. Thornton in black: Mrs w l.. Rush, in white, and Mrs. N. B. Parker in blue. The guests were next ushered into the hall where the red and green shades were employd in the decorations. Large cases of red roses stood in every available nook, while English ivy was gracefully draped over the doors, win dows and arches. Salted oceans and hints in the red and green tones were served here by Mrs. John Egan, in a blue chiffon dress, and Mrs. l.. w. Allen, in pink. Miss Willie Allen looking ex- tremely prettly in a pink beaded chiffon, stood in the arch and showed the guests into the punch room. Pink and green were the colors chosen for this room and were effectively carried out. A hand some lace piece over pink satin covered the table, while the punch bowl was banked in ferns and pink chrysanthe-
 nuns and pink candles in silver can- delabra shed soft light over the bevy | of attractive girls presiding here Miss l Sadie Sturdivant wore white Miss Mallie | Downing in green and Miss Mary Rey- nols in yellow. Mrs P. M. Mathews also 1 received here wearing lovely pink after noon toilette. Hoskin's band furnished