The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-02-25
FIRE AT ANACONDA.
Loss, 9S,OOO-A Lack Of Fighting
Facilities.

AVSS, po1VVV "A AA1CA VI utine
Facilities.
Anaconda RevieW Extra, Feb. %
About 4 p. m. yesterday an alarm
of FIRE was sounded and y few min
utes after smoke and flames were
seen issuing from the building on
Main street, occupied by G. NJ. Elder,
clothier, and NJ. G. Leonard, barber.
The fire had evidently been burn
ing some time before it was disc0v.
cred. There were 200 men at the
scene in two minutes after the alarm
sounded, and in five minutes there
were at least 1000 persons on Main
street.
At the first alarm q number of men
rushed to the buildings and forced
the doors open, but the heat was so
intense that an entrance could not
be effected. One barber chair was
saved from Leonardo shop, while
the entire stock Of clothing was con-
sumed.
Anaconda Is entirely at the mercy
of q fire. There are q couple of force
pumps On Main street and hose was
attached to them, but two quarter
inch streams on q fire of any magni-
tude are of little avail. The Chal-
lenge Fire ExtiDguisher was freely
used, out it was demonstrated to be
useless. This may have been due to
the Roadway gained by the fire or to
the worthlessness of . the extin-
guisher itself.
The awnings in front of adjoining
buildings were torn away and the
efforts Of the people directed to pre-
vent q spread Of the fire. The stock
of w. J. Matthews was transferred
to the fre-proof in the rear of his
store; Barrett, Jacky & Kramer's
stock was carried into the street; the
Butte Hardware Company's goods
were stored in part across the street
and the remainder left in the store; J.
l.. Hamilton's stock was also taken
from the building.
The wind was fortunately light
and blowing from the north. Had 1t
blown from the south or west the
loss must inevitably have been great,
as in either direction the flames
would have ignited other buildings.
AS it was. BieIenberg & Co.'S. brick
structure proved a formidable barrier
on the sonth, while the well-directed
efforts of the hose, bucket and snow
ball brigades saved the buildings on
the north and prevented a disastrous
conflagration.
Following are the losses as re-
ported by the different parties:
G.. M. Elder (assignee of E. Mar
loss on stock, $4,000.
M. G. Leonard, loss of furniture
and fixtures, $1,000. !
P. Avre, building, $500.
Barrett, Jacky & Kramer, loss on
building, $500; loss on stock, $500.
]. l.. Hamilton, damage to stock,
$500.
w. j. Matthews & Co., damage to
stock and building, $500.
Bielenberg & Co., damage to build
ing, $500.
Copinus building, damages 50.
d. Cohen, damages, 500.
Gamer & Co., damages, $50.
The total loss as given will aggre-
gate about $1,000. While the loss
falls heavily Oh some, the residents of
r to be congratulated
hat it was no worse, and we venture
prophecy that Anaconda will not
nave another as "lucky" a fire, un-
ess appliances for Its extinguishment
ire speedily procured.
The origin of the fire is a mystery.
Men first on the ground differ as to
where the blaze started, some aver-
ng it originated in the barber shop
While others are equally positive 1t
tarted in the clothing store. Mr..
Leonard left his shop at 2 p. NJ, and
the fire in his stove had almost
lied out, Mr.. Elder went to dinner
bout 1:30. He states q fire was
in his shop about 10 q m. but
vas not replenished.
NOTES AND HAPPENINGS.
Marcus DAILY was here and sent Or
|ers to the smelter for all available
men to report for duty in town.
their services were not
and the order was counter
handed.
One man was reported as saying he
you'd like to see the id town In
There is but M remedy for
ucb individuals-3-7-77.
Although thousands of dollars
forth of goods were piled In the
treets not 4 single case Of theft was
eported. although during the prog
ess of the fire the till at the Grand
Hotel was robbed of eighteen
0llars.
The Butte Hardware Company was
akinu stOck and ono mora 0av wn,1ld
ave finished the job, Now another
1vent0ry will be necessary.
Matthews & Co., the Butte Hard
rare Company and J. L. Hamilton
re getting their stocks in shape as
as possible. Barrett, Jacky &
Trainer will not be able to occupy
heir building for some days. Mr..
leonard will open when he can,