Clay County AlArchives News.....Lineville's Disastrous Fire January 28, 1916 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Linda Ayres http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007674 February 17, 2023, 6:50 pm Lineville Headlight January 28, 1916 Shortly after 2 o'clock Saturday morning pistol shots were heard, whistles began to blow, and telephones began to ring in the homes of Lineville people with the message that "Barfield-Green Mercantile Company's store is burning." These fire alarms had the effect of arousing almost every man, woman and child in Lineville, and within a few minutes they were running at full speed to the scene of the fire. After Possibly ten or twelve people had arrived, a terrific explosion of dynamite occurred in the burning building which had the effect of hurling people to the ground and there were several narrow escapes from death. It is said that there was a quantity of dynamite in the building and some caps nearby which were exploded by the flame. The dynamite demolished the burning building, threw fire brands and debris out of sight into the sky which came down like a shower of rain. For a short time the skies veritably rained fire. The fire brands fell on house half a-mile away and had to be removed to keep them from burning. Large firebrands were sent hurtling through the air for a distance of a mile. It was very spectacular. A few people were in the street and across the street only a short distance away, and they suffered no injuries other than a terrific shaking up and a bump on the ground. Fifteen seconds would have put the writer, who was hurrying to the fire, in the path of the flying brick bats in line with the place where they dynamite exploded, and 30 seconds more would have put him on the sidewalk in front of the building. Some of those who had arrived and who had broken into the building only to be driven out by the smoke and flames were barely missed by missiles which would surely have caused their death. It is regarded as miraculous providence that no one was killed, not even injured. Before the explosion occurred, the destruction of the entire block from Barfield-Green Mercantile Company's store to the Methodist Church and possibly the destruction of the entire town, seemed certain. Even after the explosion, it looked doubtful for an hour as to whether or not the town could be saved. But Lineville has the best bucket brigade in the entire country and the heroic work of the bucket brigade, aided by a merciful rain, one of the hardest short rains that has fallen in Lineville, which poured from the heavens just as the bucket brigade was getting the flames under control, together with the explosion, save Lineville from destruction by flames. But for the fact that the dynamite razed the burning building to the ground and brought the iron roof to the ground which in a measure smothered the flames, good luck would not have been with Lineville, and the entire town would have doubtless going up in smoke and flames and come down in ashes. As it was W.B. Smith & Son's building and stock of goods caught fire time after time and only the hardest and most heroic fighting saved this building and goods from complete destruction. Those who fought the flames from the interior of this building fought the fire with salt and water which proved effective. The explosion had the effect of breaking all the expensive plate glass fronts in the town, with one or two exceptions. They were crushed like eggshells, hardly a window in town was left. The shock had the effect of breaking out windows half a mile away. The damage to plate glass fronts and to windows alone will probably reach $7,500.00. But few business and professional men in town escaped damages. Goods and libraries were in many cases moved from the buildings into the streets only to be damaged by rain and mud. Those who threw open their doors to receive these goods and libraries have the thanks of the owners. For the most part those who came of the fire acted heroically. They showed the spirit of helpfulness in a marked degree. Fires and misfortunes often show what's in the heart. It is said that under excitement goods were taken away by people who had no right, title or interest therein. But let us hope that these goods were not feloniously taken but carried to a place of safe keeping and will soon be returned to the true and lawful owners. It was the most disastrous fire Lineville has ever had. Good luck, the dynamite, the bucket brigade and the rain may not prove so effective, if the town should again be visited by fire. The loss is estimated at from $60,000- $75,000 and is only partially covered by insurance. This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb