Great Falls tribune., 1888-12-15
NO FIRE BUGS
UNITED STATES MARSHAL KELLEY
GREATLY MIsLED.
Plain Facts Plainly Stated - No One
Engaged In the House-Burnine
Business-"T will be E
Ordered out Quickly.

United States Marshal Kelley was in
the city last night en- route to Deer Ltdge
from Great Falls, in which place he was
during the fire Of yesterday morning. He
states that there is no question as to the
incendiary origin, not only Of Yesterdays
fire, but Of the one on Saturday. Both
occurred in thickly-bullt section of the
town. The houses are Of frame and burn
very readily. Though the town has no
facilities for fighting fire good work was
done by and impromptu organization in
tearing down buildings and thus prevent
ing the spread of the flames. The disrepu
table element recently ordered and escort
ed out Of Livingston and the idlers who
left Helena when the authorities began
arresting the vagrants, seem to have con
gregated at Great Falls, and are held &C
countable for the fires. Eight suspicious
characters have been arrested and placed
in jail"
The foregoing article from
the Independent indicates that the genial
United States Marshal has been misled by
some one. It is we'll to speak plainly
and say that there was no inducement for
anyone to burn any Of the houses to make
money by insurance. Mrs. Wilburs
house was not insured. william ulms
building was insured by the owner, who
had leased it at fair rent and could gain
nothing by its destruction. Besides he
has not been in town for some weeks,
The fixtures and billiard tables were in
sured in accordance with an agreement
with the. persons who sold them on credit
and did not suffer much injury
So much for Saturdays fire
The three houses burned on Mon.
day were all insured by owners who
were receiving good rent from them anc
had no incentive to set them on fire. Ii
one instance-Benson u Butler's-there
was insurance on the fixtures and stock
but they saved much of both. Moreover
they were doing a good business. W.
write this plainly for the benefit of peo
pie elsewhere who might be misled b,
Mr.. Kelley's statement.
As to sire bugs" the closest. vigilance
has failed to find any. None OF tn
hoodlums driven out Of Livingston hav
vet come here. When they do if the
are not welcomed with bloody hands t
hospitable graves, they will at least b
told that the walking is good and the
had better move on. The place wher
the fire began in each instance also di'
proves that it was the work Of 'fir
bugs"
| There was much excitement but yer
4 little disorder. Mr.. Getz very prudentl
closed his door and kept it closed, NJ
knowing the moment that the fire wonl
spread to his saloon, when he woul
need all the space to move out his good
and fight the flames. Liquor was di
pensed in the streets, but its sale was NJ
encouraged, seeing that there was e1cit
ment enough. In one instance IT is
legged that colored man carried of
box Of cigars and pistol. Altogeth'
the street was as orderly as could be g:
pected under the exciting circumstance
Atelegraphic or typographical blund'
makes the Independent say: "The larl
saloon owned by W. r. Getz was uni
sured." This should have read "uni
!, jured," which is gratifying because NJ
Getz has always conducted his salot
: respectfully and worked hard to ke'
the flames in check, although his ov
store and goods were in danger.