Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-02
Loss, as Roughly Estimated,
Will Exceed a Half Mil
lion of Dollars.
Heroic and Efficient Work o
the Firemen Prevents
Greater. Loss.
General Supposition That the
Fire Was the Work of
an Incendiary.

sSANCJ NANf ~ - SAHNS
municipality i~nadequately prepared to
cope with the flames. The loss was great
how much will not be known until the ex-
element has Gained down and the disar-
ranged and damaged stocks OF tbs estab-
lishments in the path Of the flames have
been rearranged and invoieed. That the
loss OF property and life was not even
greater than it was estimated last night is
something for which the citizens should be
devoutly thankful, and for which the paid
iremen, the volunteer brigade. the visiting
iremen, the police, the militia and the peo-
pie at large can exchange indiscriminate
congratulations. Common consent be-
slows the most lavish and sincere praise
upon the fremen for their heroic work in
the face OF such difficulties and with such
imperfect facilities for work.
The destruction was widespread and
complete. Where once stood handsome
business blocks are now masses OF black
ened, smouldering ruins, and most Ct the
structures apparently rescued from the
flames are wholly unworthy of repair.
conservative estimates place the loss at
fully half a million OF dollars, and tire in
~surance about hall that amount.
The First Alarm.
Pistol shots fred in rapid succession, the
wild ringing Of bells and the shouts OF hum
dreds of people about 1910 o'clock yester-
day afternoon announced the discovery o
a blaze in the Bowes block-an unfinished
four-story and basement brick block, 5Ox
1876 feet in ground area-at the corner OF
Utah and Granite streets. When
first seen the fire was small enough
to have been extinguished by a
chemical engine, but before a drop of water
could be applied the whole interior OF the
| structure from basement to RI OF was
wrapped in flames that shot from every
window and were famed hither and Shither
by the strongly blowing wind. Although
the plasterers had barely finished their
work the whole wood work of the inside
seemed to be as dry as finder and the fire
licked it up as though it had been powder.
Within q very few minutes-so few that
many people OF the neighborhood had not
been awakened by the alarm-the low
wooden buildings adjoining the block on the
east were all afire, the tongue OF flame had
leaped across Granite street and ignited
the Barnard block; had fired the wooden
cottage across Utah street on
the west, and the e a ends
of the brick buildings fronting on
Main street. At the same time the rear of
the Frank building at the corner of Utah
street and Broadway caught the blaze and
the back fences, o%uthouses, and window
frames Of McCormick's, Mantle & Warren's |
and The MINERS building were seen to be
on fire. Prompt efforts on the part of the
fremen and the owners subdued the flames
and saved the property.
On Granite street the scene was one of
indescribab BILE confusion. From the Bar
nard block and the smaller buildings to
the west Of it; from the small houses on
the southwest corner Of Utah street, and
from the Albemarle hotel; from the little
homes west of the Alberma rle and from
the residences across the way, the people
were hurrying with heavy burdens Of house.
hold effects, seeking places of safety for
themselves and their belongings. Women
who ordinarily would faint at the sugges-
ton of hardship, dragged heavy
trunks with ease and carried arti.
cles of furniture bulky enough to-
tax the strength OF brawny men. With
the east obscured by sheets of flame, and
the atmosphere thick with almost impene-
trable smoke, the report that the
entire business heart OF the city was in
ruins was readily believed; and as the
flames moved slowly but surely west from :
Utah street there seemed to be no help I.
or that end of the town. II
The fremen fought with unabated vigor
great good judgment, neglecting tn, Sc
buildings whose fates were already sealed, :
md combining their efforts to stopping the '
'pread OF the flames. Civilians hands tore y
the burning cottage between the =
Albemare and Utah street, and checked =
he danger on the west. The streams were y
;ept playing on the Barnard block until .
he blaze there was out, and then the | y
'hole strength OF the department was ex- y
rted upon the establishment of the Bon 1
er Mercantile company, the Hsnnessy ="
Schmidt & Gamers, the First -
rational, Kahnweiler's, Babcock's and the Il
ther stores whose rear ends were exposed y
o the seething flames. The successful =
of the fire in the Bonner build.
az unuuastioDob lu q voJ tho row os S&oro .
xtenGlng from Granite to Quartz streets y
n Main, and perhaps the whole If that :,
OF town. Valiant efforts confined the =
re on Main street south Of Granite to the "
tirst National, Kahnweiler and r
& Gamer buildings. Other houses "
n the south were damaged by water and
locks were flooded and smoke stained, but =.
eyond Schmidt & Gamers the fire itself -
id not extend. On the east side of Main :,
rect the property owners hung out wet !.
before the windows and on the ..
alls, and forces of men with buckets stood y
lady to extinguish any spark hat fell. =
8 far as Wyoming street, one block east y
Main, fire brands fell and ignited roofs, ~
1T those blazes were extinguished before
ny serious damage had been done. =
The fire was really under control Eas "
as 2 O'Clock in the afternoon, but
ng after that time the ruins burned
aud even up to the time The =.
INER goes to press the fremen were play WI
9 upon the red embers and the smoking II
alls OF the burned district. til
Probable Losses. su
Owing to the intense excitement and con- We
sion still existing, it is impossible to give ou
g exact losses at this time. and it is safe ne
say that they win never be known, as ins