Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1879-12-19
BIsMARCk's $50, ,ooo BLAZE
"A LARGE CHUNK or BUSINESS
HOUSES DURNED.
Phmnix-Lfke, the Energetic Citizens
Commence Rebuildtng---1. n.
Griffin Began Upon the
Red Hot Ashes.
THE FIRE.

THE FIRE.
Again the red-,onguctl, glare-ey:d mon
ste, preys upon the property OF Bismarck
Fire! Mans best servaLt and greatest
enemy. Yesterday morning about $3.50,
local time, fire was discovered by the
night watchman in the rear of Busse &
Smiths restaurant and Geist's jewclry
store He Immediately sounded the alarm
but there beng no bell, steam whistles or
anything to give a general warning, few
people had arrived at the spot before the
building WAS so completely envclopcd in
flames that all efforts 10 save even the
stock were useless. Parties living in the
building barely escaped, some of them
leaving in their night-clothcs and others
barcfooted with coat and boots on their
arm. The Babcock extingu,shcr was on
hand rs soon as enough people had con-
gregated to move it. and. until the supply
of water exhausted, did good service.
The flames spread rapidly in each dircc.
ton. Elder s. Co.'S saloon, Marshall's
shoe shop and Gcists jewelry store were
in ashes in less than nalf all hour, and
Kupitz' meat market and u. I. Bailey &
Co.'s hardware store followed in a few
moments In the rear, on Fourth Street,
were Dots restaurant, Sam Lees laundry
and District Attorney Joha A. Stoyell's
office, also occupied 10y Geo Glass, city
justice. AT 6 80 they were in ashes. For
time it seemed impossible to save either
champion Hall, On Fourth Street, or Ep-
pinger's clothing house ON the corner OF
Main and Fourth Streets, but with the
provldential aid OF snow covered roofs
and Il calm atmosphere and the heroic
efforts OF the citizens, they were saved.
The wind, what little there was, came
from lire northeast and when the hungry
demon had devoured Balley's building, 1t
reluctantly
LAPpED ITS HELI~RR1MsTONED TONGUE
against the side of Escnberg's dry grOods
house. 1t seemed nOt very thirsty al this
stage and had there been two barrels OF
water with which to charge the engine,
it could have been satisfied in ten mo
meuts, and serrentlikc it would have re-
coIlcd and died upon the smouIdcring
embcrs of it's own destruction. The front
part OF the building was pulled down and
the tiv,y blasts swept through the garret.
Attention was now turned toward the
Western House. which WAS only six inches
distant from the sheet of fame. Superin.
tentient Iownc, OF the Northern Pacific,
who happened to be in thccity, despatched
an engine and tlal-car to the scene with
large tank OF wafer, and at his suggestion
a bucket brigade was formed and a steady
flow OF water ran down the roof OF lhe
Western House ON its burning side. The
extinguisher was also charged, tl,awed
out aud ready for business again. Twice
did the fire stcaltllily enter the garre
but through the lcrcul;lnean efforts of
few men ON the roof and the pipcmen di.
rected by Mayor Peoples in the building
THE HEARTLESs DEVIL
was checked in its helish career. The
saving OF this building was almost mirac
ulOus, and reflects great credit to the citi.
zens OF Bismarck who are ever ready and
willing t0 assist in SAVING the property ut
Others with rs much vim and eayerncss as
that Of their own. In TACT this iS'a char
acteristic Of all western people. Had the
Western House got The best of the tircnel,
Yegen's bakery, Dunn's drug store, Asa
Fishers saloon and John Ostland's livery
stable would have now been in ashes and
the chances for the Sheridan House would
have been good tor the same fate. Jack
Dunn, with heart as big as himself, at.
ter clearing the store of his drugs and
holiday goods, set at work tearing down
his building, hoping thereby, 10 save Asa
Fishers and John Ostlands. The front
was taken out, bat at this crisis
. HOPE FOR THE WESTERN HOUSE
was expressed and we'll founded and the
work OF destruction ceased. 1t is useless
O attempt to eulOyise any one in particu.
lar, for who knows who did the best ser
vice? Everyone worked. and worked with
a Zcal-as it life was at stake. In the
bucket brigade none were more eager tO
see and help in the rapid transit of pals
Of water to the front than Father Chrysns-
tom. the Catholic Priest, and Rev's. Bull
and Stevens. The councilmen worked on
all sides and mayor Peoples and ex-mayor
Mclean were good organizers and did
good service. The fircmen worked like
tigers as they always do, and but for the
lack ot water Bismarck would not need
fear an extensive cont1agration. It is to
be hoped that at their neSt meeting, be-
fore there is a chance for the memory of
this fire to pass out of their minds the
civ council will devise some means for
more efficient tire protection. The citi-
zens Of Bismarck not only deserve pro-
lection hut demand it. Though there
NAV not be fire again for months, yet
th.rs should be y man with constant
eye on the engine, ready atthe first alarm,
1@ 1@&A~na~