Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-09
A DISASTROUS FIRE.
Over $4,000 Cords Of Wood Destroye

Over $4,000 Cords Of Wood Destroyed
by Fire Below German Gulch.
Early Thursday morning the heavens
were lit up for miles around in a north
western direction. Tkoee who had occa-
sion to be up at that time we're surprised
at the brillancy of the sky. Shortly the
word was brought by telephone to Mr.. H.
| Williams, Manager OF the Colorado Smelt-
ing Company, conveying the startling in
| telligence, that the large wood ricks which
are located on the fats short distance be-
low the mouth of German Gulch were on fra.
| Wiltiam ms telephoned at once to F. r. Miles,
who was stopping at the Centennial Hotel,
to procure a special train and men to 60
down end, if possible, extinguish the
flames. Mr.. Miles started to find Manager
| Blackwell, OF the Montana Union Railway,
and to acquaint him with the facts. That
gentleman arose and gave orders
TO FIRE UP AN ENGINE
and for Section Foreman Moore to get bis
men ready at once; also to have the tele-
graph operator telegraph to q gravel train
near Silver Bow TO be ready to jump
aboard when the special arrived there.
Mr.. Blackwell said he would go to the scene
! of the CONFIRMATION himself and that he
would lend all the aid that was at his com
mand. In about twenty minutes from the
time the alarm was given the special was
graphing to Silver Bow to hold trains
against the special and to telegraph to
Stuart and hold the passenger train, which
was due there from the Northern Pacific.
About fifty men were taken aboard when
the train started for the fire
AT A FoRTY.MlLE GAIT.
At the Colorado smelter Mr.. Williams
and sixty-ive men were taken abOard and
after a few minutes further run all the
meu that could be spared from the Colo.
RADIO concentration were taken aboard. BY
this time the two coaches were well filed
with men and willing hands. Upon the ar
rival OF the train at silver Bow the gravel
train. with about seventy-five more men
aboard, Wis attached to the special, and
away flew the train. It seemed as il the
engine knew on what GRAND she was going
as she snorted and whistled continually
going down the canyon. In about twelve
minutes after leaving Silver Bow the scene
OF the fire was reached,
u TOO LATE
to do any good, as no wood was visible,
nothing but one mass Of flames. extending
from the mouth of the flume clear down to
the lower end of the ricks. about the dis
lance OF o%ne-fourth OF q mile away.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
From information that could be learned
from four Italians who were employed by
Jerry Creek Flume Company, the owners of
the wood, by a MINER reporter, who had
gone along with the special through the
courtesy of Manager Blackwell, it appears
that last night, after the Helena train hsd
passed for the east, one OF them ak
past the wood ricks several times, and he
had seen no sparks Of fire fly out OF the
smoke stack, for at that point there is a
very heavy down grade and no steam is re.
down the track past the wood several
times he went to his cabin aud turned in
for the night with his companions; that
about 4 o'clock by his watch, be-
ing awake, he smelled smoke.
What was his surprise upon rising out OF
bed to see the entire wood rick on fire. He
rang at the telephone and gave the alarm
to the men, at the woodchoppers' camp and
telling them to turn a full head of water
on above. He also t%elephoned to Mr.. Will
liams that the wood ricks were on fire. The
men camehasti!y down to help put out tho
fire. What was their establishment at find
ing the 1ume cut in several places and the
water pouring out the side of the aume.
Here was conclusive proof that the parties
who had set the would on fire had also tax
en- the precaution to stop off the water
supply to prevent it being used for extin-
gushing the same if discovered in time.
Upon their arrival the ricks were on fire
in a dozen different places and at the
upper end a very pronounced
STENCIL OF A OIL AROSE.
No doubt the fire was the work of an incen-
diary. Who ever done the deed was we'll
posted and khew just where to set it on
fire, for it had evidently been FREQ ~ the
foot of the aume, and a strong gale OF wind
blowing down the canyon soon carried the
flames the entire length of the ricks. There
were two long ricks about 1900 feet in
length and about rs to 80 feet in height
by 40 to so feet in breadth. A rough
estimate made places the amount Of cord
wood destroyed at from $4,000 to 5000
cords. There was also between 5000 to
5000 feet OF water boxes destroyed which
were valued at $4,000. The railroad COM
pany had eight cars switched into the
siding to be loaded and which were also
destroyed, besides about a fourth OF a mile
of track damaged. Mr.. Williams, the Sec
rotary and treasurer of the company,
places the loss to the Jerry Creek Flume
Company at from $4,000 to $85 5000.
Owing to the closing down Of the Anaconda
and St. Lawrence mines q large amount of
had been left on hand. He had been
supplying the above mines and lately have
but one car load per day. Mr..
Williams at once offered a reward of So LOOT
for information leadine to the arrest and
of any party or parties who set
fire to the wood. See his ad. in another
column. This is the second large fire OF
the kind within the past month. The
should also offer q re" ard in
the hopes chat the guilty parties, who ever
may be, will be brought to justice.