The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1886-01-13
A GREAT CONFEDERATION
Eight Thousand Dollar Blaze
Last Night in Butte.
FIERCE FLAMES
Water Does Not Reach tho Scene
Until the Fire LIS Almost
Spent-Sparks.

Water Does Not Reach tho Scene
Until the Fire Is Almost
spent-Sparks.
Butte was the scene last night of another
big blaze. 1t started in a&wo-story frame
building on the southeast corner OF Galens
and Wyoming streets, and it ended there
It's work was complete, however. 1t never
relaxed it's relentless grasp until it had re
duced the entire structure to an unsightly
heap OF charred timbers, and was only pre-
vented from extending it's operations to
adjoining properties by the hard and skill
full work of brave firemen.
THE FIRST ALARM
was sounded at 1926 o'clock, but by
whom cannot be definitely ascertained, al
the alleged honor is claimed by severa
people. Suffice it that in a very few mo
ments the blazing building wa.
surrounded by at least 1000 people
many of whom assisted in re
moving the furniture of the lower floor te
a place Of safety. The blaze was confined
to the second story, and thus permitted o.
the emoval Of the effects OF the lucky ones
who '%rooned" below. The usual rumore
of women being roasted alive in the build
ing were freely asserted, and, as usual,
were found to be g~roundless.
AN UNFoRrUNTE DELAY.
The fire had full swing for at least twenty
minutes before a stream was turned on it,
and by that time it was too late to save
the building where it had originated. The
firemen had their hose on the ground five
minutes after the first alarm was sound.
ed, but were helpless without water.
Curses loud and deep were heard
on all sides as the flames licked
up the building, and everybody was asking
everybody what the absence OF the much
needed aqua meant. Frantic impatience
was supreme, when at last the hose began
to swell and a welcome stream burst from
the nozzles OF the pipes. The firemen began
to drench the adjacent buildings, several OF
which were smoking in a threatening man.
ner, and in a few moments all danger OF the
confiagration spreading had been averted.
By this time the fire had spent it's fury,
and to distinguish the few beams left
standing of the destroyed building was an
easy matter.
THE BURNED BUILDING
was a handsome two-story frame of six
teen rooms and a kitchen. 1t was owned
by Messrs. Beck & Bernard, who valued it
at 81, 900, and had it insured for 81, 500 in
several companies represented here by +.
E. w. Patten. At the time of it's destruc-
ton it was rented by Mrs. Julia Ward, q
widow lady, who derived a living for her.
self and two small children by renting the
rooms. Thu furniture, which originally be.
longed to her, was held under a mortgage
by Police Officer Carlton, who placed it's
valuation at $500. 1t was insured for
$4,000, equally divided between several
companies, OF whom George F. Marsh is
the Butte agent.
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE
cannot be learned. 1t started in one of
the unoccupied rooms on the upper floor,
and spread with such rapidity IA to oblit-
crate in ii t%winkling all traces OF it's cause.
In this connection it may not be amiss to
state that within the past few days the
building was found, on three distinct
occasions, to be on fire, but on two of
them the blaze was quenched in it's incipi.
ency. There are not wanting those who
positively affirm that last nights fire was
incendiary, but nobody seems able to pro-
duce proof to that effe.t.
THE CAUSE OF H DELAY
in conveying water to the flames is a mat
ter of dispute. Chief mccarthy says the
cap OF the hydrant was frozen to the
socket and hat he was cmopelled to
thaw it it out before he could connect his
hose to it. Manager Blaine, of the Water
Company. denies that the cap was frozen,
II asserts positively that the hydrants
are always in good condition and easily
worked.
Chief MeikIejohn and Mr.. Simon Haus-
wirth offer the following explanation OF the
delay:
Hose Cart No. L, of the City Department,
made the first coupling on the plug at the
corner OF Main and West Park streets.
Closely following it came No. 1, or the
''spider" OF the Brigade, which was or.
dered by Chief Mccarthy to follow down
and connect with the City, the latter's hose
being too short to reach the fire. Then
came Cart No. q, of the Brigade, which also
coupled OF at the same hydrant, and when
No. 2 OF the City came down, it was to
couple on No. 2 OF the Brigade, to enable
the second line OF hose to reach the burn
ing building, but when the City No. 2
the coupling point, the men OF the
latter wanted to couple on No. 1 of the
City, instead of t, the Brigade, and a
squabble ensued. but Simon Hauswirth,
who mad been ordered to couple the Bri-
gade to the City, took a firm stand and re-
fused to alloy his coupling to be broken,
and then City No. 2 made connection with
the Brigade No. 2, and thus on both lines
of hose each OF the departments had q Sec
ton.
COUPLE OF CASUALTIES.
Officer Frank Mcdonald, who worked so
around the burning building.
exhausted and sank down on the
shortly after the flames were
under control. The effects of the
neat and smoke so overcome him that he
sank down upon the sidewalk and began
vomiting. He was assisted into Il store
where some remedies were applied,
and in a few minutes he WAS taken to his
room, and is again all right.
Thomas Rogan, OF the Brigade, was also
from the same cause, but he,
too, was braced up in a little while.
SPARKS.
Remillard & Parron, the liverymen, had
lively time in saving their stock. The
animals were removed beyond the danger
line before the ire had attained much
Roadway.
Butte is sadly IN need of a fire alarm sys- !
tenn. There is too much powder burned
every time a blaze occurs.
The heather Chinee as a fireman is a fail |
ure. Last evening they did nothing but
chatter.
There are a great many well-meaning
people who make a nuisance OF themselves |
at a fire. Every good citizen should keep in
mind the fact that at a fire the Chief OF the |
is monarch of all he surveys.
The interests of the city would be served
by placing the entire Fire Department I'M I
der one head.
A p~oliceman's lot is not a happy one
especially at a big fire.
The tire-plugs should be tested daily by
the fire authorities.
Several Of the hose couplings leaked very
last night. Rubber or leather wash
ers should be kept constantly on hand to
stop the waste OF water.
Giant powder should not be stored in
side the city limits. If last nights blaze
had extended to the store of the Butte
~Company-as it threatened to
and assuredly would if the arrival OF water
.ad been much longer delayed-the result
have been terribly disastrous to
both life and property.
That Chinese laundry was saved by the
skin OF it's teeth.