The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-05-28
LICKED UP BY FLAMES
Mlsssula Visited by a Very Disastrous
Fire.
THE LOSS IS ABOUT $4,000
At an EARLY Hour In the Morning
the Mascot Theater. tho Model
Restaurant and Exchange
Saloon We're Burned.
HE LOSS is ABOUT $4,000
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

opeCldl DlspdlCu 10 the OlduuaIus
MIssoULA, May 27.-After q desperate
contest with the flames, lasting nearly five
hours, Missoula's fremen this morning
prevented what at one time threatened to
be the most disastrous fire that this city
has ever known. As it Is, the Mascot
theatre, the Exchange saloon and the
Model restaurant are in ruins and their
contents are almost an entire loss.
The fire was discovered about $3.50
o'clock this morning in the rear portion OF
the Mascot theater and when first seen
was under fierce headway. 1t evidently
| started in the dressing rooms beneath the
stage and was either the work of an in
ccndiary, or tho result of spontaneous
combustion.
The building was SO constructed as to
be perfect fire trap and the flames
spread with incredible rapidity. There
were no means of giving the alarm except
by pistol shot, and this aroused only a
few people. When the fire apparatus
reached the scene, Chief Mentrum, Driv-
ers Naughton and Fox, and the engineer
of the steamer were alone. As the spec
tators assembled, however, volunteers
| were secured and in short time two
| streams from the hydrant on Front street
| and two from the steamer on Higgins ave.
nue. were playing on the blaze which, by
this time. burst through the roof and
spread TO the west portion of the block,
| where the Model restaurant is located.
The whole building was q seething fur
mace and it seemed impossible TO save the
| adjoining buildings. A line of hose was
laid across the roofs of tho blocks east OF
the fire from tho stand pipe in the Ham.
mond building, and this served to keep
the fire down in that section. This stream
efforts much credit 10 due.
Meantime the firemen had arrived and
under the direction of Chief Mentrum
were working like veterans, and by
o'clock the fire was under control, but
was nevertheless burning fiercely in the
buildings. Water was kept on the fire in
cessantly and by o'clock it was sub
dued.
| There are several bad features to the
fire that make it look like a deliberate
attempt to destroy the entire block oi
buildings. There was no chance for the
fire 10 have started from q stove or lamr
and the theory of spontaneous combus.
ton Is not generally received.
Shortly after the firemen got to work
an attempt was made to cut the hose and
tho man nearly accomplished his purpose
when he was knocked down. He man
aged to escape, however, and was no,
recognized by any one.
When tho fire was at it's height smoke
was discovered issuing from the Schillinp
block, immediately west OF the burning
building and investig alton showed that q
fire had been started in the corner of the
block furthest from the fire, BY saturat
ing the contents OF the room with coal oil
This was extinguished but was started q
second time. A close watch was kept the
rest of the time and no further attempt
was made.
The firemcn deserve the warmest praise
for their admirable work at the fire
Despite the fact that they were handi
capped by the above mentioned circunl
stances and by the blowing out of the
main hydrant on Higgins auenue, they die
splendid work, and tho owners of tn,
property have them to thank that the los.
is not much greater than it is.
The loss is estimated at from 5,0)0 tt
$4,000; insurance, $1,000 on building,
and saloon fixtures. The block wa.
owned by ex.Sheriff Houston, who wa.
running the Exchange saloon. The in
surance is all his. the others in the build
ing losing everything.
Billy Foster, who ran tho Model res
taurant, had no insurance, The roomi
in the second story were occupied by Ma,
Hall and Messrs. Mills, Gibbons, Ada M,
and others, who lost nearly all the
clothing and personal effects. The build
ing is believed 10 be a total loss, the fir
and water having damaged the walls tha
are standing SO that they can not be use,
when the block is rebuilt. Houston'
safe was examined this afternoon and tn,
contents found to be unharmed.