Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-04-08
DEPOT DESTROYED.
Fire Consumes the Depot, Some
Freight and All the
Records.
The Loss on the Building About
$1,000. and on Freight
Unknown.
A Lamp in the Oil Room Sup
posed to be the Origin of
the Fire.
Col. Hough's Slaughter House
to be Completed IN Two
Weeks.
Report Authorizing the Con-
struction of the Yellowstone
Bridge Received.

The Northern Pacific Depot Destroyed.
The Northern Pacific passenger and
freight depot was burned last night.
The loss on the building is estimated
at about $1,000, while that of the
freight which was inside ready for
shipment aud delivery Is not known.
The fire was discovered about 7:i5
o'clock and a minute after the first
knowledge of 1t, the flames had secur-
ed such Roadway that 10 try and save
IL or extinguish the flames with the
implements that were available was
merely waste of time. With a celer-
ity never many times witnessed the
flames spread all over the building.
Their flight was so rapid it appeared
as though the building had been satu.
rated with oil and flames attached
simultaneously at q dozen different
places. As soon as the light was dis
covered the usual signal, several shots
fired in rapid succession, was given,
and the cry Of fire was raised. In q
very short time the major part of the
populus was witnessing the element
do its work. When the first noise was
created. Frank Timing, the agent,
and Mr.. Foss. travelling freight audi
tor of the road, were checking up ac-
counts in the office. They both rushed
out to see what was the matter and be-
held the depot in flames. They rushed
back to the office and Mr.. Foss got
his accounts and Mr.. Timing by q
great effort got out his desk and jsrked
telegraph instrument from its set
ting. By the time he got these articles
out of the Office II was on fire, and the
smoke was suffocating. There was
just sufficient wind to fan the flames,
and the building being SO dry, they
shot high into the air, making q most
brilliant and magnificent illumina-
ton. The heat was intense and the
building next to the depot, used as an
express office, and rooms for Frank
Timing anu his clerks, was in danger
of catching. Water was carried liz
buckets and dashed against its sides,
and with great efforts 1t was saved. In
the meantime, however, its contents
were removed to safe distance until
all danger was over. Some of the at
taches Of the Mcqueen hotel were
stationed on its roof with hose. keep
ing the building moist and watching
again st flames settling on any part OF
IL. The coal house across the track
from the depot soon caught. There
were from 800 to 400 tons Of coal In 1t,
which was all destroyed. A number
Of freight cars standing on the spur
were pushed at safe distance from
danger. which would have added fuel
to the flames had they been left to re-
main where they were standing.
There are many versions Of the orr
gin Of the fire. Many believe 1t wa:
spontaneous combustion. AS near a,
can ascertained, 1t commenced In the
interior of the structure. Had 1t been
set from the outside, 1t would have
been discovered while In an
incipient state, but Is II was, II
had developed beyond control
when the first knowledge Of It, was
acquired. One of those employed at
the depot, gives as his impression Of
the origin, which sounds most prob
able, thu. lamp which was In the oil
room was the cause. The oil room
was situated directly back of the ONCE
and the agent had often spoken 10
superior officers connected with the
line, about having It removed and =
house specially for the reception Of oils
and combustlbles erected at safe dis
lance. Nothing had been done In the
matter and the fire might be attribute
able to procrastination by officers
whose duty II was to attend to such
affairs. The occasion for the fire
could not have been better chosen ct
any rate. Those whose duty It was to
repair the pump at the depot have
been dilatory, and there was no water
to be obtained except At some distance.