The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-25
Second Alarm Spread.

Two alarms were sent to fire head
quarters. The first one was turned in
by a night Waterman. who spied the
blaze In the alley end OF the sporting
goods store. He pulled Box No. 194,
Main and Madison, at 2;Al am, head
quarters records show.
Trucks Nos, / and 9. with fire COM
panies Nos. !, 4, 5 and 3. and the water
tower responded. When the firemen ar
rived, the greedy flames were shooting
clear across the alley. licking al the
Postal Telegraph building on the other
corner Of the alley.
Fire Chief Mike Fftzmorris. In per-
sonal charge, ordered a second alarm
sounded. As his companies on rand be-
gan their hard battle against the flames
the bell m called out five more
companies. II was PAS when the second
alarm tapped. and a few seconds later
companies Nos, ?, 5, 6, Z and u were
laundering on their way to the big
blaze, while outside companies, in keep
ing with Sire department ethics, crept
in 10 replace the close-tn companies
that we're fighting the flames.
In addition to Chief Fltzmorris, the
three assistant chiefs were on hand,
shouting directions, ana striking here
and there at the heart Of the blaze, In
a masterful effort 70 keep Il confined
Ito the building where IL had originated.
NNu llphIHt IfIlltlt- Wild kDtfIAfn=
lar work, Chief Fitzmorris. and Assist
ant Chiefs Julius Venturint, John Moore
and Barney OtNetl urged their men on,
Including the salvage corps, which early
arrived on the scene, there Mero Sc men
to combat the blaze.
The salvage corps did splendid work,
while the hose men piled stream after
pRulins, the property protectors
smashed lin doors, and covered all per-
ishable goods that could be reached
Their most effective work was done In
the Wood a Edwards clothing shop,
the biggette optical company, the
Buckingham Bnsley- Carrlgau Co. sales
room and the Moseley- Robinson drug
store.
Two carloads Of metallic cartridges,
stored IN the rear OF the sporting goods
store, began popping like several ma.
ehlne guns were at work. AT one time
a number of them went off together,
n the resultant explosion was iikened
70 a six-pounder by one Of the fighters
who piled a hose line.
Men Escape Injury,
The flames licked out Of the first
floor windows on the alley side, where
they first were discovered. and were
sucked into the second story windows.
They ate into the walis, and thence I'd
the ROOT. The rear section of this soon
gave way with aicrash, plunglng In aud
among the doughty firemen. Who had
yentured with hose lines to Nhe second
floor from Madison avenue stairway TO
the building, But the roof was not
particularly heavy, and the crash In
jured no one.
An aftermath TO the fire was sounded
about 8 O'Clock Thursday morning, al
WsaAEN aN IAaa4 affAa A. Al..a - -.
e~xtinguished, Heat generated BY the
blaze crept through the huge electric |
wire conduits down Madison avenue,
and surrounded h transformer Of the
Memphis Gas and Electric company, |
buried is feet below the street sur, |
face, In front OF the Central National
bank The heat grew too great for the
sealed transformer, and the few pedes-
TRANS passing, likewise the ftremen
still about the partly wrecked building. |
were startled by n terrific explosion.
The massive cast iron manlole covar
sailed into the air and crashed down
to the street, breaking into many
pieces, Great clouds Of smoke poured
from the manhole, where the trans
former had exploded,
Workmen from the gas and electric
company oon were on the repair job.
They estimated the damage done at
between $4,000 and s., 300.
Work OF rehabilitation on the Lee
bpilding will be started at once, ac-
cording TO George n. Guthrie, agent
for the Lee properties. Mr.. Guthrie's
office was located on the second floor
of the wrecked building. Water worked
effective rein with his desk and office
furniture.
Rumors arising following the fire,
that tho building would not be repaired,
but would be replaced BY a modern
skyscraper, We're set at rest by Mr..
Guthrie, who stated that the old build
ing would be repaired, and that work
on II would be started at once,