Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-01-27
FIRE JUMPS INTO
ADJOINING BLOCKS

x
ADJOINING BLOCKS
Chief McDorman, who is one or
the best known fire chiefs in the
United States. is in the hospital In
a serious condition.
The fire conferred between Clay
ten and Broad streets, two OF the
main business streets of Athens. 1t
wiped out the block bounded by
these streets, Wall and Jackson
streets, jumping both Wall and
Jackson streets for short distances
in adjoining blocks.
Fronting on Clayton street, be-
tween Wall and Jackson, is, the de-
partment store of Max and Simon
Michael, whose beautiful twin homes
on Prince avenue are among the
finest mansions in Athens. They own
the entire property bounded by
Clayton, Wall, Broad and Jackson
streets, except for the corner at
Broad and Jackson. Their depart
ment store, including both wholesale
and retail stores, is one of the big
gest in the south.
Directly across Wall street from
them, on Clayton street, is the Max
Joseph building, a three-story strl-c-
ture with a basement. 1t was in
this building the fire broke out.
This building is occupied by the
Denny Motor company, a small res
taurant fronting on Wall street, and
several secret orders which used O
hall in the upper story, these includ-
ing the Masons. the Odd Fellows and
the Woodmen of the World.
Started in Restaurant
The origin Of the fire has not been
accurately determined, but it is be-
1ieved to have started in the restau-
rant. In the Denny Motor company
was about 100000 worth Of new and
used cars, and large quantity OF
gasoline.
The flames breaking out about
midnight turned quickly to- the plant
Of the motor company, and, ignlting
the gasoline. had the whole building
afire. The Athens fire department,
which numbers about eighteen men,
was soon on the job, but the fire
ragged too fast for them to control,
spreading to the Michaels' store, IL
ate it's way along Clayton street ana
back down the hill to Broad street.
Fire Wall Stops Flames
When the Citizens Pharmacy, on
Clayton street, just across jackson
street from the Michaels store pc
came ignited. it looked as II the
fire would sweep another block, but
directly in the rear of the Citizens
Pharmacy, fronting on Wall street,
is the National Bank of Athens, pro-
tected by a brick fire wall, which
In h frn
Broad to Clayton streets. This
stopped the fire from spreading
further in that direction.
The stores on Broad street, group
Of clothing establishments, had
their top stories damaged the worst.
suffer except from water damage.
These stores included Boley's, Ept-
ing & Everhart, Fred Davis, D. Lund,
and Lee Morris. Lee Morris is on
the corner Of Jackson and Broad,
The fire went no farther in this di-
rection, as the National bank is on
the corresponding corner.
In the other direction, the fire
stopped short at the Johnson Shoe
company.
-, Directly across Broad street from
dred yards away. is the main ad-
ministration building Of the Uni
versity of Georgia. one of the his
toric structures Of the state, sur
rounded by dormitories and other
university buildings. Sparks fell
among these in a perilous manner,
but none of the buildings ignited.
On the opposite side of Clayton
street from Michaels' store the big
shop windows of glass were melted
out by the heat Luckily the wind
was in the other direction, so
neither they nor the Southern Mu-
tual Life Insurance company build
ing were in any great danger.
When Chief Cody. of Atlanta, ar
rived here this morning he found the
fire practically out. The street was
raped off to keep back the crowd,
and the Atlanta firemen helped the
Athens department in pouring water
on the debris to quench the live
sparks, ana investigating the ruins
to keep several big walls that were
still standing. from falling.
CHIEF CODY BUSHES
2 BUMPERS TO ATHENS
Fire Chief William B. Cody, his
driver, Tom Williams, with two
pieces of Atlanta fire apparatus and
their crews, left Atlanta for Athens
Tuesday morning at o'clock, in an
swe: to an appeal for help from the
Athens fire department. Wagon
No. 4, 1,000-gallon pumper, and
Wagon No. 3, a 750-gallon pumper
were taken, with their crews of four