Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-02-02
AGAIN VISITED BY FIRE.
MAIN SIRE ct, EAST OF FOURTH AVENUE,
THE SCENE OF A SECOND CON-
FLACRATIOM.
TOTAL LOSS ABOUT 90, 500.

Friday morning last Lewistown was Wis.
tied by its regular annual fire, resulting in
a total loss of about SO, o The fire
originated in the rear of Sullivan e. Car.
sons saloon 1.-THE old Gilkerson & McGin.
Miss place. and consumed Stephens & Bay
lies drug store on the corner, the saloon in
which it started. w. G.. Norman's jewelry
store and Alex Branson's barber shop.
The origin of the fire is clothed in mystery,
inssmuch as the fire in the saloon stove
was entirely out when Morris Sullivan left
at 1:3O a. IN. and no fire had been placed
in the rear room that day. George Ray
slept i'm the small rear room and that night
retired about nine O'Clock, but was awak-
ened about 800 by the breaking of a win
dow pane and looking up saw the whole
rear end OF the main building on fire, but
no fire in the room. Waking w. G. Nor
man in the next building the latter gave
the alarm by d~ischarging five rifle shots
and crying fire. This, and the ringing Of
the school bell later, awoke the peaceful in
mates of the town and soon a crowd had
gathered. Efforts were directd toward
quelling the flames until too late to save
any thing in the saloon. resulting in a total
loss to Messrs. Sullivan & Carson, who had
owned the property but one week, succeed
ng GiIkerson & McGinniss. The flames
spread rapidly and without obstruction
until o. E. Benefits two story brick was
reached, where the dread destroyer was
held. The movable contents OF all the
buildings except the saloon were saved.
The losses SO far as reported are as fol-
lows:
o. E. Bennett, damage to wall and second
floor by reason of fire entering windows,
81, 900; fully insured.
$500 on stock; building insured for 81. 900.
Much of Mr.. Norman's iewelry was in his
safe which has not yet been opened.
Alex Branson, building, including furnace,
wind mill, bath room fixtures, etc, 81, 900;
no insurance, policies having expired about
thirty days previous.
Sullivan & Carson, 81. 500 on stock, none
If ~hich was saved; fully insured.
Mrs. Flora Anderson, owner of the two
corner buildings, $500; insured for
$4,000.
Stephens & Baylies' drug stock was con-
siderabIy d damaged in the hasty moving.
and subs quert exposure to cold, their loss
thereby being placed at $500.
Mr.. Stephens tried to get some one on
the tel,phune line before tearing out the
instrument, but failed. Friday morning
when they tried to get Lewistown and
gained no response they thought the line
broken by reason OF cold, not thinking oil
AN over supply OF heat this weather. The
drug stock was moved into Landt's saloon
building Friday, Mr.. Landt transferring
his stock of liquors to his larger building
next door.
Alex Branson is temporarily located in
one OF j. E. Murray's rooms near post
office and says he will rebuild as soon as
arrangements can be made after opening oil
spring. Mr.. Norman is doing business in
the front room of his restaurant, three
doors east OF his old stand, and also ex
poets to rebuild in the early spring. Both
of these will be stone or brick structures.
Mrs. Anderson expressed her intention oil
erecting "a handsome stone and brick block
IN her corner. probably two stories and
arranged for accommodation of two bust
ness houses.
But a light wind was blowing during the
time of the fire and from an e~asterly direc-
ton. consequently no fear was entertained
of the flames spreading. Lewistown's con-
fl grations seem to come at almost regular
intervals, the large fire oftwo years ago &C.
curing on February LIST, and the blaze OF
last year on the 18th Of February. The
only fatality reported this year was the
death of a six months-old bear, which was
cha ined in the rear Of w. q. Norman's es-
Establishment. Efforts were made to save
him, but in vain and the flames 500 cap
tured him.