The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1874-01-17
DISASTROUS FIRE IN HELENA.
HALF THE BUSINESS HOUSES
BURNED.
$50 Buildings Burned: Loss $500


The Helena Herald of Friday states that
at o'clock that morning fire broke out
in gambling house in Chinatown-in the
same place that the fire of April 1869
originated. The alarm was promptly given
| but the wind was blowing a perfect hurrl-
cane down the gulch and the most super
human efforts of the fire department and
citizens were powerless to stay its fierce
sweep until the very heart was taken out OF
the city, destroying 150houses and property
| to the amount of $S50,000.
THE COURSE OF THE FIRE.
From the building in which it originated
| the fire communicated to others and i'll a
brief time all Chinatown was in flames.
| The saloon on the corner Of Bridge and
Upper Main streets then caught, the grocery
store of Irvine & TODD soon following; then
Lissners billiard saloon, the wooden build
ings opposite, including Travis stables.
| The flames leaped across the street, and, as
| matter of course, the International Hotel,
the finest and most complete public house
| in the northwest, was the next victim to the
remorseless frenzy of the Fire Fiend. Then
followed Dan. Floweree's g Exchange, the
"Kiyus,' Binzel & Dennis, and in fact all
the buildings on Wood street. Soar
| Sample Rooms and the brick block adjoin-
| ing, including the Post Office and the
wooden buildings across the street, we're all
swept out of sight in less time almost than
t it takes to record the fact. Human efforts
seemed utterly impotent to stay, or even
! check the ravages of the inexofable demon
enfolding in fiery embrace many struct-
ure, and swiftly spreading over the heart
/ and centre Of the town. johnson Dutrei-
ulle's barber shop, Hedges & Holters brick
block, Mrs. Twogood's Millinery establish
ment, The Peoples National Bank, The
First National Bank, The Union Brewery,
Cans & Klein, Goldberg & Bro, Frank Abt,
the Diamond "R'' Office, the Lafayette
Brewery, Nick Kessler's Brewery, the Cos
mopolican Hotel, Dr. Franks, barber shop,
Charles Rumley's Assay Office, ]. Feldberg' S
and many Others which at present we do
not recall, were completely destroyed.
! Many valuable buildings on Bridge street
were also laid in ashes-in fact the greater
portion Of that thoroughfaae, including the
| Gazette Office. Mr.. Roman and his employ
es worked heroically to save his office, but
! no human effort could avail against such a
hurricane as that which prevailed during
| the fire this morning. We deeply sympa-
thize with the Gazette Company in the loss
sustained, and hereby pledge ourselves to
do all in our power to aid them in re-estab-
! fishing the paper. This is the second time
that office (and the second time also, that
the Herald ofice) has been bIotted out of
existence.
/ What seems to be more remarkable in
connection with this fire is the fact that it's
| course was about the same as that OF the
great fire in 1869; in fact almost precisely
the same, for on that occasion the whole OF
Chinatown, Bridge street, Wood street and
Main street on both sides, We're entirely
destroyed. There is this difference, how
| ever, in the former fire-eyery building on
| the south side of Main street as far down as
Hale's drug store, and on the opposite side
as far as Clarke, Conrad and Curtin's hard.
ware consumed, while in this fire it only
extended to Ming s. Co.'S book store on one
side, and TO Miller & Rosencran's boot and
shoe store on the other. On Bridge street
it extended as far as Renig's and Doris &
Lowrey's on the opposite side of that store,
where it was checked, there being plenti
full supply of water in the well near the cor
ner.
A desperate effort to save the St. Louis
Hotel was made, and we are happy to state
that it was successful though it was general
ally believed that the house, which stooe
out in bold relief, would have tosuccumb tt
the devouring element. 1t was saved, how
l ever, as by miracle, and in consequence
of the destruction of the International ane
Cosmopolitan, becomes in this emergency {
valuable piece of property. AL other build
ings on both sides of jackson street were
totally destroyed, and many houses in thu
rear of Jackson met the same fate.
/ HEAVY LOSERS.
1 Cans & Klein, the most extensive mer
camille firm in Montana, hare lost their en-
tire stock of goods, consisting of ready-mad
clothing, and gents furnishings;-the lar
gest and choicest stock in the Territory
and valued at $3.50, 900. In addition to thi
they lose their fine tlree-story brick build
ing, valued at S25, 200. All Of which, w
learn, was total loss, there being no in
surance on the same. The destruction 0
Cans & Klein's building also involved tn
loss of Goldberg Bros stock of clothing
which was removed to that house soon afte
the breaking out of the fire, believing tina
it was perfectly ffre-proof building
Goldberg estimates his loss at SIS, 900. Th
valuable library of E. W. Toole and j. x
Toole was also removed to Cans & Klein
! and this too shared like fate. The librar
, was valued at s., 900.
} The buildings of the First National Ban
| and Peoples National Bank are lost but til
{ moneys and books were saved.
ANOTHER FIRE.
About 10 o'eloek the stable of Geners
Blaine caught fire from some of the cinder
which were flying in the air. The fame
quickly spread to his residence on Fift
: avenue, and in less than thirty minutes bot
: were in ashes.
e Several other dwellings on Fifth ayenu
E and Rodney street caught fire from tl
same cause referred to above, and a gener;
d fire in that section of the city was only pE
s vented by the vigilance of our citizens.
9 ESTIMATED LOSSES.
Tong Hing. three houses Tin one of whic
. the fire originated). loss, $1,000.
4 Gazette Office. $4,000. The Gazette W;
q ... = e.,xl &.