The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-09

oiA negro houses across the main lire of the Louisville and Nashville hallway were saved from flames by active work upon part of their oc- eapants with bucket brigades
 According to supt. G. L. Mccall, Whe was in the office at the time the fire was noticed, the fire either started from crossed electric wires in the blaming mill or from an exploded lantern.
 Mr. Mccall was attempting to talk to long distance over the telephone to Selma at the time his attention was called to the fire and was unable to get central connection to notify the fire department He left in his automobile to nearby telephone to turn in the alarm, but was preceded in this action, the Norwood depart ment arriving at 5:7o, at which time flame were ascending from 30 to 70 feet in the air. lighting the skies.
 Car Service Halted
 The l.. & N. tracks are at the west of the Reid property and the spur which runs to the Soutnern tracks at East Birmingham Is at the south separating the Reid company from the Birmingham Machine ana Foun- dry company.
 Heat from tho fire melted the copper wires of the Western Union Telegraph company--but few feet from the building housing the office of the Reid company. Poles of the l.. & N. telegraph, telephone andssig nal service caught fire, but this serv- ice was not materially damaged. Car service on the Boyles and Ironton lines was halted and the passengers were obliged to transfer.
 The Anniston local O. M. A.. No. fl was held up for half an hour. due to hose lines on the track. Firemen played streams on the blaze from three sides with but little effect, as the lumber burned like finder.
 The blaming and sawmill. 44x210 feet, housing blaming and saw ma chinery, five electric motors and fin- ished high grade lumber; the build ing 60x10o feet used for office and storing of high grade pine lumber. and a building 24xs6, feet used for hardwood lumber storage, were all completely destroyed by fire, as were many lumber piles. A small creek tD the north of the structures sepa- rated the only remaining lumber pies. which were not burned. a total of 500,0o0 feet of pine lumber.
 Many Watch Blaze
 Charles K. Reid, owner Of the s,lant, arrived upon the scene shortly after the fire. He had planned on leaving last night for Atlanta and mad his ticket purchased.
 Several thousand people were at trscted to the vicinity by the bla5e and volunteers aided the firenen with several lines of hose.
 The fire was under control at SEQ l-ut the lumber burned several he s, despite constant streams of wate1
 T estimate the loss at from $55 O8o to s60,000,'' said MT. Reid last night
 There was close to 100000 feet or lumber burned. at least 900, 900 Icet and with 1t went one of the n osI upto date saw and blaming plants ir this section of the country. Moat Of the machinery had only been us<2 lt year and all was electrically driven.
 Although it is premature for E statement, it Is quite probable that ! will rebuild. Our firm had only been ih business two years.
 q carried S35,000 worth of insur- ance on the plant, which has been in operation steadily.
 The fire occurred shortly afteT quitting time when but a few men were about the place."
 The Western Union wires, eight of which were down as result of the men were repairing them as soon as it was cool enough to get on the job.
 The Norwooa fire department crew remained at the fire until late hour.