Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-04-28

Just as soon as Coroner Whit I'd wal
notified OF the finding of the body OF LITTLE
Charlie Lee, he displayed his usual promp
titude by summoning a jury and holding ar
inquest. The jury was composed OF Judge
F. Loeber 0oreman), Thomas c. Porter
Thomas B. Harper, Capt. T. E. Owens
Elias LytIe and R.. j. D. Jones.
THE
George Hitler saw the fire about q minute
after it started. 1t first broke out from
the northeast corner of the building.
J.C. Green was sleeping in room 10, Ore
gon House, on Saturday night. Had been
awake som. time when fire broke out on
south side OF building. Thought he heard
a match being struck. Got up and went
out, and saw the wall Of one Of the rooms
ablaze. Ran out and screamed 'Fire!''
Fire started in either room 8 or room IL.
Didn't kno who occupied either room,
but knew that the party who occupied the
room where the fir: did originate entered it
about 2 a. M, and set down on the floor,
near the bed, something very heavy.
Didn't hear the party get up. First saw
the fire on wall, spreading rapidly.
1t was a white blaze, emitting
showers OF sparks, which fell eleven or
twelve feet from the blaze. The wall was
lined and papered, hut the blaze emitted
no smoke. Wa a perfect stranger in the
house, and had no acquaintance in it.
Never spoke to a person in the house, ex-
cept one lady who, when he shouted Fire"
asked him what tie matter was. AS near
as he could remember, he was in the burn.
ing room half a minute after he heard the
match struck. Had lived in the house since
Wednesday,. The person who occupied the
burning room coughed like II man.
Katie Magee, landlady OF the Oregon
House, heard the alarm OF fire and jumped
out. Alarm was given by a man occupying
Oom 10. No one occupied rooms 8 or II,
SO far as witness knew Lodgers entered
and left at all hours of the night.
Party named Goiorths, who occu-
pied the restaurant, had trouble with
witness, who wanted to get rid OF them and
them to leave. They threatened to
trouble for witness-told her they
W .uld ruin the reputation Of herself and
her house.
c. Bone occupied room No. 4 in the Ore |
gon House. Miss Magee and Mrs. Goforth |
had some trouble.
Frank HUH thought the fire commenced
in room 2. Two or three cans of coal oil
and a quantity Of wood were piled at head
Of stairs. !
Sarah Magee said nobody had occupied
room II for at least a week previous to the
ire. The lock OF the door was broken,
it was never locked.
Minnie Goforth kept a restaurant in
House for one month. Rented it
rom Katie Magee. NJ. Goforth built a
ire at 5 a. m. yesterday morning, Wit
less got up and saw house was on
ire. Blaze must have started on second
1oor, as witness saw flames coming out OF
window. Katie told witness
'he (katle) had put a semi.Grunken man
20 bed at IL O'clock Saturday night.
Mrs. L.. Graham occupied Don 8 with
Ter husband. Heard alarm OF fire at 4:45
m. saw blaze coming from room IL. Did
see anyone come out OF that room. The
amp did not set fire to the building, be-
'ause witness saw it burning whe she ran
the hallway. The partition in
Dom II di not reach entirely to the CELL
ng. The door OF Don IL was hallway
opened when witness saw fire coming
through it. She and her husband escaped
rom the bui ding, but her husband went
Jack to save their effects and by mistake
inferred room 2, occupied by Mrs. Lee
her children. He grabbed the child
started with it for the stairs, but was
knocked down by excited
,arties who were escaping, and lost the
The fire was not such a fire as would
'e created by lumber. It emitted no smoke
,r Tunes, but Il white, flashing blaze. which
pread very rapidly. Did not see or hear
nyone in room IL.
Marshall Graham husband OF the
w~itness) believed be could have
aved the child il he had assistance.
Mrs. Lee and the child in room 2.
The mother was crying, ''Oh, my child!
lave my child" Witness picked up the
hid and reached the hallway with it, when
he child was knocked from his grasp, and
he fire and smoke compelled him to re-
reat.
Mrs. Bradley was Mrs. Magee's guest,
at 8 O'Clock Saturday night heard 4
ONE person moving around and drop
omething heavy IN the floor OF room IL.
hear anything more until awakened {
v alarm OF fire. i
THE ERDIC !
A verdict in accordance with the facts
licited in tne testimony was rendered.
hat Charlie Lee came to his death by burn
,g of the Oregon House. Butte, Montana,
n the morning OF Sunday, April rs, 1886.
Stray Sparks. ...- =
The remains OF the little victim were d
,und by Mr.. Jack Roberts. B
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