The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-16
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY I6. 1895.
LastNight's Horror.

W TN unSpedkdDle regret the STAND
ARD carries this morning to the PEG.
pie of Montana the news of last
nights startling catastrophe in the
city of Butte At this hour the fear.
full death roll cannot be made up-it
lengthens from hour to hour as the
night watches advance; it theatens to
reach an appalling total
As rule, respecting news, the early
reports are apt to be an exaggeration,
but manifestly the rule is reversed in
this deplorable instance-hour after
hour the disaster has been putting on
more distressing proportions; up to
midnight it was as if the city of Butte
were unwilling TO admit to herself the
real weight and extent of this latest
and most terrible visitation.
The news pages of this edition of
the STANDARD recite the narrowing
story of what happened last night.
The opening of the earth under the
very feet of the people of that
city would hardly have brought
more startling shock. Every home
In the city shook under the outburst
and, doubtless, as the explosions were
repeated, every heart, for the instant.
stood still
Whatever the loss may be to injured
property, as the result of the explosion
it is of small account 1t will figure
up to an impressive total. meas.
ured in dollars and cents, but
all this Will be accounted as
worthless dust in contrast with
the overwhelming grief incident to
the awful sacrifice of human life.
Terrible as the ascertained loss of life
IS sure to be, the melancholy fact re-
mains that the most careful inquiry
will never be able to announce the
number of last nights victims.
1t seems as if all the agencies of an
adverse Providence has helped TO
make the disaster more deplorable
The fire occurred at an hour that
was sure to attract to the scene
crowd of more than ordinary pro.
portions. 1t came at a moment when
the members of the fire department
were prepared for alert service. The
valiant action of the employees of the
department, the hea rtless slaughter of
its membership, the intrepid behavior
of those who, for the public safety.
risked all and lost all-these are con-
siderations which will leave their mel
ancholy I'M press on the mind and the
heart of every man and woman in
Butte.
Alas for the lost! All honor TO the
memory OF the brave-hearted men
who, in the discharge of duty. met |
death They will be held in gentle re-
membrance, and over their manpled |
forms the fearful tribute of an afflicted
community Will be paidl
The responsibility For the in
slant, let that fearful issue be held in
allegiance. Il is with the living: first
of all let Butte pay contrite re-
spect 10 the memory of the
!amented dead. We live in a
region where the constant use of dan
gerous explosives is imperative. The
storing Of this material is easily regu.
lated by law, with reg ard to the com.
plete safety Of the public. Law has
not failed; il has decreed how the i'm
munity Of the people may be assured
Retribution surely awaits those on
whom rests the responsibility for this
frightful calamity; II will come under
the calm processes of the law, as far
as expiation is possible.
But, at this hour. lot US linrer with
the dead; we can deal with the living
in due time. Let every business en-
gyln Butte come TO pause. FIRST of
all, requiem for thu innocent victims
and, in their hurried exit into eternity
let i be the invocation of every de-
vout heart that the lntercessions Of
the compassionate Savior Of mankind
may attend them'