The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-28

of smoke permeated every mart OF the
building. This Increased the natural
excitement caused by the fire and a
scene of widest confusion ensued. Men
lost their heads n rushed up and
down the halls. passed the stairways
without seeing them. knocking one an
other down. pitching trunks out of the
and only delaying one ly-
others progress. Women, a number OF
whom lived in the house. added their
shrieks to the turmoil. until IL seemed
for q time there must be many casuali-
ties result from such disorder. but good
fortune was curiously mixed with the
misfortune of the momen and aside
from he cases mentioned no one suf-
fered physically and nearly every one
saved all or nearly all of their person.
al effects These were piled up in
heaps at a safe distance and a guard
left to camp on them until morning.
while the women were taken in and
made comfortable for the night by
~neighbors and the men turned to and
helped fight the fire.
Uode Control.
For many minutes. probably half an
hour. although II seemed much longer.
after the streams were turned on. IL
seemed as though the boarding house
was doomed. for the flames burned
flercely in both of the old sections and
gained steadily on the firemen. but the
wise judgment of directing one stream
toward preventing the spread of the
fire across the alleyway to the new part
manifested itself in time. and the fire
was confined to the two old portions. At
length the stream in the rear was
forced further into the heart of the fire
and gradually it began to yield. BY
the time the hose wagon from the city
arrived the flames were under control.
and 1t was but a few minutes after that
until no signs OF fire were visible. The
1remen relaxed their efforts and adj
journed to the bar to warm themselves
and were standing aroun discussing the
fire when another alarm was given. and
on returning II was found the flames
had broken out anew. The streams were
turned on again n this time Chief
Flannery, who was now in charge,
made certain the fire was out before he
allowed the streams to he withdrawn
again.
When the whistle of the Mountain
began blowing. some one hearing
IL made a u for the city to give an
alarm. He met an officer in the gulch
who understood him to say the Green
Mountain mine was on fire, and not
knowing h better to do. the officer
pulled the box at Wyoming and Cop
per streets and the department made a
fruitless run up the gulch. on return
ing, Chief Flannery got n telephone
message from MIR. Mullins asking for
help. and he decided to send the extra
hose wagon from the central station.
but before he got il started another
telephone came saying the fire was
under control. 1t must have been
sent by some irresponsible person. for
the fire was then at its height. and Mr..
Mullins. learning the department was
not on the way. sent word he would
nav all avnpnGaG 10 helm vrara sanf
Then a team was secured from a livery
stable and the extra wagon sent. and
Chief Flannery and three men accom-
panied ii. They arrived in time to be of
material assistance. although the fire
would doubtless ave been checked
without them.
Il innate of The Loss.
When the fire was out and IL was
possible to make a survey of the dam
aged sections. 1t was found hat both
Of the old portions had been practically
The floor of the dining-room
had fallen in i'm the rear. and every
thing in the kitchen n cellar. and the
interior of the frame section
were destroyed. Such of the furnitur.
on the upper floors of the old brick
building as nae not been destroyed by
FIRE was ruined by water. making the
virtually a total loss. while
the loss on the building will be heavy.
Mullins. being unable to judge of
he amount of damage. owing to the
condition OF affairs when h.
his estimate for the Standard
yesterday morning. placed the valua-
ion much higher tina IL proved to be
he made a better examination
yesterday morning. Yesterday he
placed his loss at between s.. 200 and
1000. On the frame structure he car
lied 1900 insurance, and on the old
prick building $1,000. while there was
on the contents. and the bed-
ling. furniture. fixtures and supplies
will be a lead loss. Mr.. O'Brien, of the
irm of Kelly & O'Brien. yesterday Wis
the scene of the fire to make a
estimate of the damage for
insurance companies. Mr.. Null
ms stated that as soon as the adjust
nent is completed he will start in and
After the fire was out most of the
men who had been routed out stayed
ip till morning. when provision was
made for them by Mr.. Mullins as far
- possible. and those who were un-
for were taken in temporarily
~ ~neighbors and given a place to
leep. Mr.. Mullins had one section Of
he range in the kitchen disconnected
nd set up in the basement of the new
uilding. as well as a small cook stove.
md converting another room into a
ining-room. fed most of his boarders
or breakfast and all of them there
fter. II was rather cramped quarters.
nd IL became necessary to utilize a
'athtub for a trough to wash dishes in.
'ut everyone mad the best of IL and
onsidered themselves fortunate that
hey were in circumstances.
IL is seldom green fremen work to
UGH good purpose as those did who
ought the fire yesterday morning.
was one time when no one could
ee how the building could be saved.
nut they saved IL. and much credit Is
.ue Superintendent Keegan and the
Con fire department. as. In
act. every one who lent a hand. Mr..
expressed himself yesterday as
decidedly grateful TO every one who
-ssisted him in his misfortune. Last
he following. signed by a
lumber of citizens of Centerville. was
to the Standard with the request