Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-10-04
Marshall Nevins Perishes in Sunday
Morning Fire Which Destroys
the Eclipse Stables.
The Unfortunate Victim Was Sleeping
in the Haymow-Probably SultO-
cated-Body Recovered.
Twenty-Three Horses Burned to Death
Cascade Hotel Gutted-Orisin
of Fire TnknoWn.

fire department to the building on the
southwest corner of First avenue south
and Fourth street, occupied by the
Eclipse stables.
The entire structure, which was en-
tirely frame. was a mass of flames, the
fire bursting in flash from the rear of
the building before the alarm was given.
The department was on the scene in a
short time and soon had six streams
playing on the flames.
Within the building all was commo-
ton. Twenty-Five horses were shricking
in pain and terror, charging from one
end of the stable to the other. and. al
though their cries were quickly stilled
by the cruel flames and smoke, they
were heart,rendiug while they lasted.
But what caused many lips to speak in
subdued tones and many faces to wear
expressions Of horror was the knowledge
Of the fact that, in the vortex Of the
flames, there lay the lifeless body of
man whom the flames had surrounded
while he lay in sleep, cut off from all
means of escape, and that the bright
t1ames, making spectacle awful and
beautiful in the gray dawn, were rapidly
incinerating human flesh and bones
The Great Falls fire department. was
never before compelled to encounter
such intense heat nor to guard against
such danger as was threatened Charred
pieces of shingles SIX inches square, still
ablaze, were being carried far aloft, fall
ing il several instances SIX blocks away.
every window in the Clingan block.
across the street. was already cracked
and the contents Of the building were
becoming heated. The tiremen realized
that, if breeze should arise, the flames
would sweep over at least two blocks.
The department fought valiantly
and succeeded in preventing the
spread of the flames to the |
buildings east Of the stables, but the |
heat was so intense when the fire was
discovered that the corrugated iron
shaathing Of the Cascade hotel, fifty feet
west Of the stable, was heated red, and
the upper story Of the hotel was flied
with smoke, while between the walls
could be heard the cracking of the burn.
ing lumber.
Three streams were playing on the !
hCtel, but the fire was within the build
ing, and whel hole Was cut in the
front, the issuing smoke was 20 dense
that for several minutes. it Was impos,
siDIe to direct the stream to any pur.
pose. Despite al efforts to prevent it,
the flames finally broke through the
roof and then it was possible to control
then,
Meanwhile streams had been qucnch-
ing the ire in the wreck oi the stable
and as soon as men could enter into the
space where the buiIdin5 had stood
they Old 80.
About IL feet from the front door was
discovered the charrcd trunk of Marshall
Ne'ins, Who had been employed in the
stables for the past four years, and who
is presumed It. have been sleeping in the
hayMaW directly above tine spot where
the chastity remains were found. \
piece ST carpet was secured, trndcrlv
tho r"malus were placed upon it, covered
with one end Of the strip Of carpet.
borne jo the hose wagon and taken to
undertaking rooms.
After ABOUT three hours work the fire
was under control. The hydrant pres
sur" had been all that was desired and
gradually increased, despite the increase
III the nuu4bcr of streams playing upon
the fire. At one time five men could |