The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-02-21
THIS MORNINGS FIRE.
A Fire Started in the Rump House Ruins
the Building.

the Building.
Az 9.S0 o'clock this morning. when Assist
ant sereeant-st-Arms James Kelly Of the
senate was walking down Main street he
noticed smoke coming from the upper story
of the Granite block. He ran up 10 the
room occupied by the rumps and found the
interior n mass OF flGme. Kelly iInmedi-
ately gave the alarm. and in d timo
the department responded. IL is generally
believed that the tire. which started in the
rump room was caused 10y the burning Of
remnants of freorackers left by the rumps
after their last nights celebration.
The slowncss Of the FIRE department IN
reaching the soons was oXaspgraiing. IL
seemed ns though they never would reach
the place. Meantime number OF men
burst in the doors leading 10 the Eumr
quarters, thereby letting In a draught
was fully eight inmates after Tho fire dc.
partmen;, or fragment of il, reached the
scene. And after they got there
another ave minutes expired beior.
"A hose coupling Was made
The flames were gradually forging thcil
WHY through the walls of tho American Ex.
press company and the Helena Clothiql
compgny's quarters. hose was rushed ~
stairs where the ruiup legislative hall WAS y
mass OF flames. Ia "A few minutes smother
hose was pouring stream Of water from
Iuohy ~ Dlcken2ie's store. Another hose
WAS rushed around 10 the rear which was a
disacrtenble place 90 work on account OF
the great mass of rickery IN that part. The
eral cases. aud ia consequence
tbs hose frequently broke. The water sup-
ply was not all that could he desired, and
The he WIS going fuily half an LouT before
the full forcg 81 the fre copartmcnt Was
used. The big black team had TO make
three trips 10 the central station, once toI
the aria ladder. which could not he used
ON account OF the many telegraph ana Other
wires. by means OF 3 TOpe AJJs WIS
holsted TO the ronf Of the iroqrois build.
ing. About : o'clock the building w2s
thoroughly fo0ued aud most of the watsl
seemed "a utei.ch ths Helena clothing
store. las Losnins was quite chilly ana
under the ullgvoiable circumstances tul
Ire boys Gid wel, bat there seemed 10 b.
lac, @ discipline or Geueralship.
There we're no accidents, and the loss q
tie occupants cf the nortn balf Of thS
building vii. be very slight. It's Wnols IL
ttl.r ~ ioe seaslu suf ~ ruined, bat I
| &C on e.. lie 'front.' "a very sligc.iy dam-
agtG. FcGes 'or a.. new bailey block Ia-.
enirate ned ior tinie, bu. the lack Of q
breezr stN,d ~. AaSuf 4,l.Vs VS. Tgo.a.-
uent among the al..o work.. "a hi,
advice WAS heedcl. At Z & -ioc- toe hr.
WAS well under control, hn3 a, ile hoar o
going tu press water ~ pouring upon th,
chnrred timhers OF the roof and interior.
The lower floor Of the Granite block wai
occupiodby the following hnns; The Mani
tOba and Montana Central railway com
pany's Office, the American Express Office
the Northwestern Clothing company, th'
Montana lottcny and 1ouhy a Mchenli'
Fuel company. The adjoining building oI
the north, small one story frame, was oc
cupicd by a wholsaleRnd retail liquor house
The books aud other valuable materla
Were carried toa safe place across the street
The damage to occupants will probably fal
heaviest on the clothing firm, but all are re
ported 10 have been we'll insured. Th
Granite block waa substantial twn-stor'
stone building erected about sixteen year
ugo by klclnschmidt Bros, and is nov
owned 10y Il. II. kleiusclImidt. II was th'
intention of the owner 10 add several NOR,
stories the coming spring. and II the wall
arc unlniurod, which il presumed to bc III,
case, the Gre will not cause any drawback
or delay in tho proposed plans,