The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-21
PAR|S|AN STORE IS TOTAL LOSS FROM BLAZE YESTERDAY Damage From Early Morn ing Fire Is Probably
 Well Above S15O,OOO ONE MAN HURT BY
 FALLING LADDER Ia
 Block Says Future Plans Are In- definite, as Two Months Will Be Necessary to Get
 New Quarters


 stroyed the interior and the stock of the Farlslan company, 1913 Third avenue, north early yesterday morning and badly damaged the stock of & A. Williams &, Co, an adjoining store. The total dam age is estimated at $15O,O00 or more. It will be several days before the exact damages will be known. The fire originated near the elevator shaft in the rear of the Parisian on the fourth floor. Officer James Byrd dis covered the smoke, and upon investigat- ing, found the building in mass of flames and smoke. Officer Byrd turned in the alarm at 5:55 o'clock and within live minutes 20 streams of water were playing on the blaze. Every fire station ] in the downtown district responded to the alarm. Every floor of the building was in blaze, and it was o'clock before the fire was under control. Several of the companies remained on the scene until 1 afternoon to keep the fire from rekind- 1 ling.
 The aerial ladder of Station No 6 gave way under the strain of three water filled hospipes and fell to the street shortly after o'clock. J. R. Stark, fireman at Station No. g. was struck by the falling ladder while standing on the street and was thrown several feet, sustaining a l broken leg. He was removed to St. Vim cents hospital in an ambulance of the Johns Undertaking company. No one else was injured by the failing of the huge ladder.
 
 Commissioner Arlie Barber was on the scene shortly after o'clock, and helped the firemen to fight the flames. Chief s. A. Middleton arrived within five minutes after the alarm had been turned in and he worked faithfully with the firemen until after noon.
 1 The E. E. Forbes Piano company. an adjoining store, was slightly damaged by smoke, as well as Goldstein Brothers, on the other side.
 BY SMOKE AND WATER I The west half of the first floor of the Parisian building, which is occupied by the Williams company, was damaged by !! smoke and water only. The roof fell through about o'clock, coming to the ! ground floor. Several firemen were slightly cut about the hands and body The Parislan company opened tempor- ary offices in their old building, next door to J. Black & Son, yesterday after noon, where all of their business will be carried on until they arrange to get new quarters.
 l The Parisian company will get back into i business as soon as possible, according to l.. Block, manager of the Parisian, | last night.
 FUTURE PLANS UNCERTAIN 1 'It will be at least two months or more before we will be able to get in new quar- ters, and at the present time I don't know what our plans will be-" said MT. Block last night,
 l The Parisian stock is heavily insured, i but don't know the exact amount. The insurance will exceed half the loss. l am of the opinion that our damages will not exceed s9o,O00
 1 'T have one thing to be thankful for that is, the other merchants have given all of our employees employment until we reopen. l certainly appreciate their kind ness in helping our employees. | T haven't the slightest fdea as to how the fire originated, and I don't see how it started on the fourth floor.' l The building is owned by Samuel L. Earle. president of the Earle Real Estate | company, who at the present time is out of the city, and the amount of insurance carried could not be obtained. Mr. Earle was advised of the fire yesterday morning | by wire. It is understood that $45,000 in- surance is carried on the building, but this statement could not be confirmed 1 last night.
 TO REOPEN AT ONCE l S. A. Williams of s. A. Williams X Co. announced last night that they had leased I quarters at 1912 Third avenue, directly across the street from their burned store and would get ready to resume business | at once.
 The damage to Williams & Co.,, while 1 heavy. cannot be estimated. It was l caused chiefly by smoke and water.