The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-05
FIRES TAKE TOLL
OF 81 IN YEAR
Continued From Page ~

land. Ala, left by themselves and lock-
ed up in their home, were burned to
death with the house in which they lived
going up in smoke. During the early
part of October two negro children in
Madison county suffered horrible fate
in almost the same way. On May "a,
of this year, four negro children were
burned to death near verbena, in Chill
ton county. They were left alone, 1T
is said, by their parents.
Other fatalities from the fires of the
state show by the records include one
white child October is In Washington
county; one in Macon county near Tus-
kegee. November %; November y, an
aged negro woman at Selma; December
81, an aged white woman near. Cuilman
January 5, white woman at Opeiika;
january 6, negro child at samson,
Geneva county; January 10, white
woman at Blount Springs, IN Blount
county; October 30, "a young. womans
body was efemated in Tuscaloosa coun-
ty, probably murdered first and httle
later a negro fight at Tusealoosa re-
suited in a woman burning to death
an old negro man was burned to death
u,
her %: Talladega county furnished one
victim on January %, af aged white
woman January Z, child persisted in
flames Mt Admission and the same thing
occurred at Admission again on March
%.
Two Young Women
Two young women, one of them
telephone operator, died in fire at
Andalusia after the fire alarm hal been
given by them. The lost their, lives put
save valuable service to the town In
giving the fire alarm. At opp, Gov
ington county. a. child Nof eight years OF
age. burned, to death, February B;
Gsdsden furnished three of the victims
of fires. February IA and February 10
each. n small child was burned fatally,
and on April Z the same thing occurred
again near Gadsden. February %
man was burned to death at Jackson
Vile. Ala. in Calhoun county; an old
white man burned to death at Dothan,
March II, while little boy at play at
Bay Minette, Baldwin county. died of
burns he received on July 18th. On
August 81. q Marshall county farmer
died at q Huntsville hospital of injuries
received from flames when he attempted
to "kindle"a fire with oil.
These are all that the records show
but there may be others whicn nave
never been reported.
The fire marshal talked interestingly
r0f the various ways of trying to hold
down fires and reduce losses OF life
and property. He said the losses as
given show more than a. half billion
dollars worth of property destroyed
in the United States of America IN
twelve months. Alabama has made
good start by adopting a Textbook for
use in public schools, teaching the me-
cessity Of, fire prevention and taking
care to handle fires with care. She
has also created state forestry com
mission to battle with fires of the for
ests. but the best way, said the fire
marshal, Tin my opinion to- fight fires
il to get a concert of action by business
persons and householders to destroy the
spirit Of carelessness which we allow
to exist in so many ways"
Officials Lend Aid
Officials from the highest to the low
est lend their aid to the fire prevention
and fire fighting forces of the country.
The officials life of the country joins
in the fight against this waste, begin
ming with the President. of the United
States. President Coolidge says;
ITO give cordial Endorsement to the
national fire prevention campaign seems
to me duty and, l gladly discharge it.
With the loss of life amounting to
thousands and of property. aggregating
more than a half billion dollars, it is
evident that every effort should be made
Much of this loss is unnecessary and
to reduce the first waste of the nation.
avoidable, for more fires are preventable
through reasonable precaution. hope