The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1885-05-09
A TRIO OF FIRES.
Livingston, Billings and Miles City Devas-
tatetl by Flames.

Livingston, Billings and Miles City Devas-
tated by Flames.
About 8 o'clock on Saturday night last
fire was discovered in the upper story Of
the Livingston hotel. The alarm from
numerous human voices and from the
whistle Of locomotives in the yard quick
" called crowd. The fire had started
from an unexplained cause in room or D
on the second floor of the hotel, and as the
upholstered walls were like tinder the
flames spread with incredible activity and
the whole story was in few moments af-
ter discovery of the fire in the control of
the devouring element. Ready hands
rushed in and saved what was possible in
the lower story. The fire quickly spread
to Vohse Brothers. building and the Re-
we're hotel next adjoining, both two-story
frames and both east of the Livingston,
and completing the row on that end of
Park street. The Vohsc building was oc-
cupied by Its owners as saloon IN the
lower story and by Mrs. W. H. Lowe as a
dwelling above. The Revere building
was not occupied for its original purpose
as hotel, but contained a considerable
amount of furniture belonging to Mr..
Montagu, who also owned the building in
conjunction with Frank Henry. The con-
tents Of these buildings were removed as
rapidly as possible but not without much
damage. The entire lack of presence of
mind generally displayed by unorganized
helpers at fierce fire came to the surface
bedding was carefully packed down stairs
while stoves and mirrors were hurled
through second story windows. The
stocks of liquor were looked after with
such care that large proportion of them
have not materialized to this day. Dur
ing the fire there was very slight breeze
of wind from the east or northeast, and the
flames and flying brands and cinders were
carried toward the main business portion
of the town. When the fire had firmly
fastened itself upon the three buildings
mentioned it began to reach out toward
Higgins Brothers building across G Cstreet,
opposite the Livingston hotel; this was
also asstwo-story frame building occupied
by its owners as saloon below and for
lodging purposes on the upper floor. Fear
ing the spread of the fire to do further
damage, many citizens proposed to destroy
the Higgins building with explosives and
thus remove food from the flames. But
some objection being offered this was not
done and the building was soon afre. The
billiard tables, stock and fixtures were re-
moved from the saloon and saved without
great loss. Henry Franks brick building
was next nearest the fire hut it withstood
the test without damage. In the rear
stands a small wooden building occupied
by Mr.. Frank as dwelling. To save
this building extraordinary efforts were
used, as had it caught fire the flames
would have extended through intervening
buildings to the rink and thence to the
whole town. The building was covered
with wet Mankets and anxious men watch
ed the track of the flaming brands and
promptly extinguished the numerous in
cipient blazes that we're lighted. So the
town was saved with comparatively small
dauage-loss enough in all conscience to