Great Falls tribune., 1889-01-05
HURNED DOWN.
MI. Collins Fine Residence Destroyed by
L Fire Yesterday,

Fire Yesterday.
About 2:3O yesterday morning Frank
Coombs saw from his house That Hon. T
3. Collins's new building wason fire. He
fastened over there and others soon fol.
lowed him. The flames had burst forth
in the northwest corner Of the building
They made rapid progress aid despite all
that the firemen and people'cpuld do, the
entire building became enseloped in
flames and was soon entirely destroyed
During the fire part of theporch was
torn away. This was all that he people
could save, although they were willing to
do all in their power. Some firemen
were absent. They were hishd by the
whistle alarm, which they supposed was
a repetition of the whistlingshat had ush-
cred in the New Year at milnight.
The origin Of the fire IL mystery.
There we're no fires in thelouse, which
was entirely unoccupied. The furnace
fire had been carefully put sat the even
ing before by Mr.. Morgan, Tie architect,
who closed the doors oftae house and
left it, as he supposed, eitirely secure
It is supposed that some ramp gained
access to the building and byhis careless
ness set it on fire, but there isno positive
proof to that effect.
1t was also surmised that some MS
creant deliberately set the halse on fire,
but this is nothing more than a surmise
and is BASED on the assumption that as
there was no fire in the building some
person must have started one. No one is
able to find any motive fof such wicked
ness. Mr. Collins is popular throughout
tAe city and has no enemiss. He fills the
TssponsPble ationpp position 9f fsidept Of the
Movement designed to benefit the city.
The building which he was just complet-
ing was regarded with pride by the peo-
pie, who deemed it an ornament to the
city and the first of many buildings which
might be erected in that excellent local
1ty. All these considerations render 1t
unlikely that any villain was so bad as to
set the house on fire.
The building which was so hastily de-
streyed was begun about two months ago:
1t was entirely the product of home skill
for Mr. Collins believes in keeping non
ey at home and IN employing our own
people in preference to others. The
house was designed by Mr.. Morgan. The
brick and woodwork was done by
Coombs and Roberts. The brick was
made in Great Falls brickyards and the
woodwork was also fashioned here
where the furniture and car
pets would also have been procured.
Fortunately the building was insured
in Phil Gibson's agency for $4,000. This
does not cover entirely the expenditure
nor does it compensate for the disap
pointment and inconvenience. Genera
sympathy was expressed for Mr.. Collins
who bears the loss with his customary
firmness and pluck. Sympathy is alst
expressed for Mrs. Collins and the child
rem who counted on being able to vel
come their many friends to the new resi-
dence. Early in the spring Mr.. Collins
will begin another building.
The lack of water for fire purpose
was rendered apparent by this fire, whicl
made such short work Of a solid bricl
house that had been carefully built.
was felt that the insecurity is very gres
when building, entirely detached, coul
he so quickly destroyed.