The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-09-13
FIRE DAMAGE IS
ESTIMATED At
NEARLY $4,000
Building On goth Street Occu-
pied BY Machinery Firms
BurnS-Stock Much
Damaged

Damage estimated at 100000, was
done by fire of unknown origin, to
the three-story building and contents,
jointly occupied by the Interstate
Betting and Packing company, Atlas
Machinery and Supply company and
the Walstrum Armature Works, Inc,
and Twentieth street, south, last
night between the hours of 8 and
IL o'clock. Practically the entire loss
will be covered by insurance, accord
ing to available information.
e. T. Beatty. proprietor of the At
las Machinery company. stated that
he had moved almost his entire stock
of machines from out the building
preparatory to his complete removal
on October l. to another building.
Only office furniture and working
tools belonging to him remained in
the building at the time of the fire,
he said. He estimated his property
which was ruined by water and
smoke at $4,000, all of which is
fully covered by insurance.
George Record. proprietor of the
Interstate Betting company. said
that his stock of betting and packing
would exceed 100000, he having re-
ceived a new shipment of stock with
in the past few days, which was
alone valued at $4,000. His loss
was also entirely covered by insur-
ance.
None of the officials of the Wal
strum Armature works were present
at the scene, although 1T was said
that they had only a small amount
of articles of machinery on their
floor of the building. The building
itself was owned by j. M Cart
wright local real estate man, and
was covered by insurance. The struc-
ture was valued at $4,000 by fire
officials. and was said to have sus-
tanned at least $4,000 damage to the
two upper stories. The fire did not
reach the ground floor, although the
water damage to this portion of the
building will be heavy, fire officials
said
Chief S. A. Middleton said that the
alarm was received at the head
quarters station about 9:15 O'Clock,
although upon the arrival of the en-
tire fighting forces from the down
town district, the entire upper sec
ton of the building was enwrapped
with flames and smoke. The aerial
tower, with two water lines playing
against the flames, was brought i'm
mediately into play, aside from the
dozen other lines used around the
building by the firemen.
Two incidents where progress OF
the firemen, in their fight against
the flames was marred, occurred
when one of the lines of the tower
burst open, flooding the streets. and
the second. when line playing
against the flames from the right
side of the building. tore loose from
the grasp of the firemen. The lead
of the flames was overcome. how
ever, after hard and long drawn
out fight.
The roof of the building gave in
after the flames had been going for
about an hour, quickly followed by
tn erear portion of the third story
floor crashing through. allowing all
of the water which had collected on
the third floor to fall through to
the second floor and drain down to
the ground entrance.
No accident resulted to any of the
firemen or the thousands Of pedes-
TRANS who quickly gathered upon
the arrival of the fire apparatus. SO
dense were the crowds, until every
available police reserve, some of
whom were from the Woodlawn sta
ton. were brought into service to
stay the people from surrounding the
building and hindering the work of
the firemen.
AS rsult of lines being laid across
the tracks. train No. 4 of the Louis
Vile and Nashville road which was
30 minutes late, and due to depart
from here at 9:07 o'clock last night.
was delayed for more than an hour
and half. The Pan American, de
luxe train of the Louisville and
Nashville road. was also held in the
yards for 20 minutes. A fast pas
senger train of the Southern road
was also held up for short time
where the tracks cross Twentieth
street.