The Helena independent., 1889-01-22

fore be knows whether there ls a fire or
not.
The nremen fought brayely and did very
effective work. In about half an hour al
ter they had water on the burning build
ingu the hre was put out For two hours
or m0re the seven streams poured into
the stable, entirely flooding the base
ment, and during the whole time the
force of the water remained the same
The water service was regarded IA the
best ever had Ia the city and brought forth
many notes Of praise for the WO0lst0n
water works; the reservoir was kept wrll
illed, and when the water was shut on,
the register AT the IRE department showed
six feet still In the reservoir Mr.. Lelgler,
the heaviest loser, Is loud In his praise Of
the efficiency 0f the firemen, who, he said,
did all that human power could do 10 save
his property, The stable building Is pretty
badly chaTred; so much 50 that Mr.. T.. will
have Il torn down and a new and handsome
building erected on the site.
The origin Of the fire is unknown and
while many hints Of incendlarism have
been thrown out, others believe some
drunken Individual who had probably
sought nights free lodging, had, through
carelessness with a cigar or match, been
the cause of IT, There were five old pianos
and one new one, together with stock Of
picture frames and fireworks, stored away
10 this building and were owned by g. n.
Wells. who places his loss at about Si.OO0
This makes the Third time that Mr. Ielg
ler haa suffered by FIRE, but PhGnlx-liEe
he has always arisen with renewed energy
and ylguT % start Ia over again and this
occasion Will prove no exception 10 the
rule, Al the time Of the great ire in
1879 be conducted a stable at the corner Of
Main aud Bridge streets and lost every
thing, and during 1872 fire again visited
sINN I..a al s.V
stable, which was then situated on upper
Main street In those two fires he says he
lost So 900, and estimates the loss by yes
teTday mornings lire at $1,000. Among
the horses that were burned three of them
were valued at $500, and nothing less
than 500 would purchase any OF the
others, which were among the finest AMI.
mails In the city. There is $1,000 insur-
ance on the property; with {. +. Ellis Il
Co., In the Etnt 81 900 ON the building
and 1900 on vehicles and harness in the
Firemen's Fund; with l.. +. LaCr0lx, In
the Home Mutual, $1,000 ON the building.
An old land mark is wiped out OF ex-
istence by this fire. IL was the building
adjoining the stable erected In 1885 Dy Ben
Daly. father Of Mrs. j. 5. featherly. IL
was used Rs a paint shop and had been
raised about ten times from its original pO-
sitiOn but never attained the level Of the
street In II were stored number Of
buggies.
Chief WhitmeT fell through the floor OF
the second story 20 the ground floor but
was not injured although he was thoroughly
soaked with water.
A new and vigorous kick was Instituted
yesterday over the poor condition OF the
electric alarm system. A prominent mem
Der Of the department remarked that the
antiquated notion of keeping man In
watch tower is altogether too far behind
this age Of progression. A good fire alarm
system could be put in the city for what ii
would cost 20 keep man In the tower two
years.
There also appears 10 be great need Of
ladders; those in use are said to be too
short, even when two are placed together,
To reach a three story building.
Uncle SANS building was saved only by
good work.
The burned vicinity was visited by a
large number Of people during the day,
and many expressions OF sympathy were
heard over the loss Of the noble animals.