Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-07-25

and tinder-boxes and the Northern
Pacific express Office vent up in smoke
flame and cinders Tuesday afternoon.
This unsigbtly pie has long been
an eyesore to the people Of the town
and il has been dOubly vaxat'ous for
the reason that being owned by the
Northern Pacific there wss no show
Of is removal excepting by the hand
Of Providence, or, a. appears on n. p.
freight contracts, ''act Of God" IL
was also built in such a way as TO block |
the opening Of Twenty-eighth street.
As long as IL s ood there wa no prob |
ability Of the railroad company build
ing a new and r 5pectable depot build
ing ana Offices. For this and many
other reasons there was little regret ex-
hibited when the flames bad sa COM
pletely yenwrapped the block that 1t was
declared impossible TO stay the fire and
the department turned its attention TO
holding the fire within bounds and
saving the track and contiguous build
ings. This they succeeded in admir-
ably and not 500 damage was done to
the property surrounding. Every foot
of the hose owned by the city YVES In
use, old and new, Ave streams being
available by the department, and one
railroad company hoee. The first
alarm Of fire was given at 4:30 p. M,
Just as the west bound passenger train
was about pulling out. The fire start
ed In the part Of the Headquarters
building used previously as the laun-
d-y, on the arst floor and directly east
Of the telegraph office. The wind blew
strongly from the west Al first but
shifted a. IL increased to gale and
came from the northwest. envelOping
the cluster of buildings completely.
For the first half hour II locked ~
though the Telegraph Office could be
saved, but It was finally abandoned ss
the heat increased in intensity and
the several streams were taken from
their play on the already burning
building TO preserve the property on
the north eide Of Montana avenuei
the Barney furniture store and J. III.
Conrad's dry goods house being In I'M
minent danger. On the south side the
firemen worked like heroes 70 save the
Yegen warehouse, on ths right OF
way and most dangerously situated.
Another crew was looking after the
block on the south side Of Minn' sOts
avenue, the Yegen buildings and the
Times office, Nick Klos' saloon and
other frame buildings In that imme
diate vicinity. The roofs o. thes'
buildings caught fire occasionally from
the flying sparkle, but sharp eyes and
! willing hands located and quenced tb'
! insIpient flame. Yegen's awning wa
destroyed, q spark setting II afire an'
} the water and men finishing its de
struction. Ht 6 o'clock, one hour aD'
thirty minutes frcm the time tn
alarm was given, a mass Of shoulder
ing ruins marked the place where In
!, Headquarters hiss stood these man.
years, and an old landmark is foreve
removed.
The railroad property destroyed wa
insured for about 80 900. The furnitur
in the Headquarters building, whicl
was leased by Wm. E. Meagber, an
used as a lodging house, was PARTIAL
saved, but is practically worthless, an
Mr.. Meagher was not fully insured
His loss is naturally heavier than an
other individual. not only from a
actual under insurance, but from los
Of business, the lodging house oriDl
ing him In no inconsIderAble revenu'
Mrs. Waste, an employe At the Gran
hotel, who rOomed at the Headqnar'
y ers, lost her entire wardrobe. .exceptin
: what she had on, and In attempting
u locate this room and remove the walt
u ables Mr.. Meagher was overcome B
the heat and smoke. and was unable
do any more for several hour. Al
other domestic, who was In charge
\ the Headquarters. lost nearly all h'
u valuables, including $50 cloak. Son
/ Of the dodgers, mostly railroad eu
ployes, lost their few possessions. Tv
y employes Of the hotel. the night cieI
Oh and the lunch counter man, we
asleep when the alarm was sounde
IL and being accustomed TO the mar
y noises about the yard. did not awake
% until the smoke was thick In the
'n rooms and the main building was I
le afire. They didn't stop TO gather |
o their clothes, other than wss uecessa
- and one Of them jumped out Of d
o window, the other getting out anoth
= way.