Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-12

Sayed-The Insurance., Etc.
About 4 O'clock yesterday afternoon vol
uHaes OF smoke commenced to roll upward
from the roof OF the Star Livery Stable,
southeast corner OF Main and Gaiena
streets, owned by John Il. Davis. An
alarm was turned in. and the hose carts OF
the brigade aid department responded
with three Thousand feet Of hose. Two
streams were attached to The plug ut
Cars, corner Of Park ard Main, aad two
more to the corresponding corner, q block
above. There was Il delay IN joining the
old and new couplings, and one hose burst
ut the plug al Main and Park, which gave
the flames at least ten minutes start be-
fore water began to play on the barn.
When the water did begin to play on the
barn there were four splendid streams,
with as much force as the hose could
stand.
CIiefs 0'Brien and Themes were prompt
" on hand, the first Of them being on the
scene as soon as the presence Of the fire
was known, his blacksmith shop being in
the immediate vicinity. The men played
on the Galeua and Main street fronts, two
OF the lines being taken into the burning
barn with the fire burning fiercely above
the frail rafters overhead and a regular
furnace being ia front Of them consuming
the infiammable surroundings of the stable
prope. A ladder was placed at the south
end OF the Main street front where a line OF
the Brigade kept the flames from spreading
next door to Gunther's harness shop.
The efficient work done by the men of the
Fire Department and Fire Brigade who
turned out showed that in spite OF al they
have said they were just as ready al ever
to respond to q call, and~to attack the
destroying element with unabated zeal.
The fire was a fierce one from tho infiam-
mable nature OF the building and it's con-
tents, but the men stood to their work
brayeiy and look the most daring risks
with %unflinching courage. The boys witt:
the chemical engine did good work at the
rear.
The first Indications OF the fire were
from the roof in the neighborhood OF a
pipe leading from a stove recently placed in
the hal ness room. 1t was put ia by the
Butte Hardware Company, and all the
usual precautions had been taken in iso-
lating the pipe from coata; It with sur
roundiBgs. Nobody connected with the
barn had been in the seconi story. where IA
large quantity of hay-some ten or
twelve tons-had been stored, since s
O'Clock Sunday evening, and no one was
seen to go up there. According to Mr..
Davis himself, the fire in the stove was o
a large one, and there is no apparent rea-
son why it should have caught from it..
Some people favored the theory OF incen-
diarism as the only way to account for the
breaking out of the fire.
One Of the first to notice it was John
Dowd, from the opposite corner OF Galena
street, and his first act was to rush over to
the stable and begin the work OF
saving the horses, releasing them
from their stalls and driving them out with
a whip, thus insuring the safety OF all the
stock. The buggies on the first floor were
all run out in safety, and q good deal Of
the harness was saved. In the second
story besides the bay, worth SIS a ton,
there were eight new sleighs and cutters, be-
sides one or two new buggies, which Mr. Da-
Wis had paid 81 800 for recently. A good
many saddles and much harness besides
was lost. Mr.. Davis had no insurance on
his property burned. The stock and ma
terial saved were taken to his stable OF.
Montana street.
At first appearance it seemed as il the
entire block would have to 60. There
was apparently no hope for Gunther's
harness shop next door south OF the stable,
and it was quickly etnptied OF its contents
were piled in confusion on Main street,
by all eager crowd OF men and boys, every
one lending a willing hand. LfsroGche &
Becker's blacksmith shop was next south
Of the harness shop, and other willing
hands began to rush it's contents into the |
street also. The Oregon Stable next below
this thought there was nothing like an
ounce OF cure, and the buggies and
,ontents were soon beng run out to safe
~. But as soon AS the streams began to
1lay on the burning stable, it was evident
hat the flames would be stopped ther e.
fhe harness stock OF j. B. Gunther, how
'ver, suffered severely in tine rude handling
t rec etved, aud must have, been more or
ess damaged.
The building was the property of Mrs.
Annie w. Cleveland, now in Indianapolis.
md was rented by Mr. Uavi,, the ground
to II. K. Reeder, OF Helena, and
$ leased to Mrs. Cleveland. The Insurance
IN the stable was in the agency OF Mantle
Warren, in the following companies:
Union of New Zealand, $237.5O; State In
'estment & Insurance Company of Califor-
ia, $231.50; Etna of Hartford, $475;
queen of London, $475: American
Ire OF F~nHadeiphla, $40, a total
II $1,000. Owing to the property
situated within the fire limits, any
building erected there will have to bel
reproof, but Mr.. Davis said yesterday he
'ould have to rebuild at once as, under
he terms of his lease, he coIld not afford
0 have it lie idle.
Bart Flowers. the driver Of the city team
ttached to the Department hose carriage,
aid the team hauling dirt for the city when
ne fire broke out and had to take the team
OF the wagon n go to Lavell's stable
IT the hose carriage when the alarm
This occasioned much loss OF
time and many people think the
cam should be kept at the stable with the