The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-09-30

A HEAP OF ASHES
Splendid Business Blocks in
Butte Swept by Flames.
LONG LIST OF LOSSES
AOfe Than Three Hundred thousand
Dollars GO Into Smoke.
Tho Hennessy Establi shment. the First
National hank. the Bowes Build-
sing and Other Property
An . Pile Of Ruins.
LONG LIST OF LOSSES

BUTTE, Sept. 29.-At 10 minute past II
O'Clock fire WA discovered in the new
brick building known rs the Bowes block,
at the corner Of Utah and Granite streets.
When first discovered the flames had
burst the lower rear mt the south
west corner Of the building. A STANDARD
reporter was the first to Gov the
fire. Instantly an alarm wa
given, whistles were n and
bells were ringing. The city fire depart
ment and the Butte fire brigade respond
ed with remarkable promptness, but in an
incredibly short time the whole building
was wrapped in flames. In less than Ave
minutes after the fire was first discovered
the splendid hve-story building was
wrecked and the walls fell i'm.
The fire had gained such Roadway
and the wind was blowing such a
Rale at the time that the firemen, although
they worked h~eroically, were unable to
prevent the fire from spreading, and in a
few the flames had licked up half
q dozen frame buildings on Grants
street and had caught i'm the gable OF the
fine brick store ON the corner OF Grants
and Main This building was occupied
by the ID. ]. Hennessy Mercantile COM
pany and A. ]. Dusseau, photographer.
The strong, thick fire walls and iron
sheeted windows held the flames in
check only few moments. The
ing buildings in the rear through
every crack and crevice and soon the
flames burst out through the roof. Two
powerful streams from the fire
were ~unavailing and by II :25 O'Clock Hem
nessy's dry goods store, one OF the largest
and best stocked in the state, was re-
duced to ashes with it's $l25 600 stock of
goods. Adjoining Hennessy's store on
Main street to he south was the
First national bank. This was
burned next. Spreading still south
down the front OF Main street on The west
side, the fire destroyed three brick build
inRs adjoining the First national bank.
The first was owned by the Centennial
Brewing and occupied by
Schmidt & Gamer, saloon keepers. Next
came the brick store owned by H. Jonas,
and occupied by Kahnweiller's bazaar.
The we'll known dry goods and gents
furnishing house "3l1," n branch OF the
mammoth Bonner outfit, and managed
by Mr.. Charles Palmer. was The next
to fall q prey to the flames.
The fire was checked here from extend
ing farther to the south on Main street,
though a number of stores n block farther
down were damaged more or less by fire,
smoke and water. Babcock Bros, the
matters, removed all their goods and the
rear OF their store was damaged, n num-
her of rooms occupied by clerks and
OtIlGTS HI the Sccotho ctoEy ga ouIhheu
AWAY completely.
Meantime, the n q, aided by the high
wind which was blowing, was carried into
other parts OF the town. The Bernard
block, a fine brick structure, which stood
nearly opposite the place where the fire
originated on Granite street, was con-
sumcd. In this block Of buildings sew
eral business firms were located, amongst
them being Cushing's drug store, DIR.
w. NJ. Schultz, Office and residence;
I. p,n<r>a flnrfiSfrv nffieaL Mira nnar-
ing, millinery; Samuel Perry, tailoring
establishment; the offices of the Butte
and Boston Mining Co.; :. v. kemper d
Co.'s real estate office; Patterns real es-
tate office; Carter & Hathaway's collect
ing and general agency Office; DIR. Giles
pies office and residence, and a number
Of other Offices. West OF the Bernard
block stood n brick store.owned by Mrs.
Bishop. This burned next, with all it's
contents. DIR. Towards office and
residence was also in thisb block and fwere
completely destroyed. West OF this was
A. w. Bernard's residence and Office and
Curtis Il Majors real estate office. These
were Quilted and the furniture completely
destroyed. A small confectionery store
occupied by Mrs. Featherley, was injured
to the extent OF 500. AT thisp point on Inc
north side OF Granite street the fire was
checked though some small houses in
stroyed. Mrs. Scott owned n small frame
house on the corner of Utah and Granite
streets just opposite the Bowes block.
This was burned up. II was occupied by
Mr.. Bowes rs AN office. These buildings
being mostly Of wood were burned rapidly.
The greatest struggle of the day WINS
made by the fremen when the Bonner
building on the corner of Granite
and Main caught fire. This build
ing is almost fire proof being
protected by huge iron window shutters.
Notwithstanding this the flames worked
into the crevices and soon the whole
corner of the building was afirc.
Flames were issuing from n number of
places i'm the roof and all the in
the rear OF the store. Great sheets of fire