Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-03-23
HOUSE BURNED IN BUTTE
TWENTY MEN ARE MISSING
Employees of the Anaconda Company
Fire Believed to Have started In
the Engine ROOm-Halls Filled
With SmOke-Injured Taken to
the Hospitals.

Butte, Mont, March 81. - The Hale
house, Il big three-story building, used rs
al boarding and lodging house for the men
in the employ of the Anaconda company,
was entirely destroyed by fire early this
morning. The building is on East Broad
way, and when the fire broke out, shortly
after 3 o'clock, there We're 400 men i'll it.
OF these, many are now in the hospital,
and others who escaped, almost without
clothes, are scattered all over town.
Several men who escaped express the
belief that fully 20 bodies are in the ruins,
as many men who were in the building at
the time of the fire were intoxicated and
were rushing wildly and aimlessly
through the corridors. The fire is be-
lieved to have started in the engine room.
and many occupants of the building were
awakened by the smell of smoke and es-
capped before the alarm had been given.
!. j. Haggerty, proprietor of the Hale
house. says all the inmates escaped, and
Fire Chief Flannery also expresses that
belief.
Until the safe. now buried in the cellar
under tons of debris, is removed, and tho
books examined and roll called, it will not
be known how many persisted. Estimates
OF the dead, which now run up to %, may
be cut down as the men report for duty
or to the police. 1t is known that GO did
not show up at the mines this morning
but many of these doubtless are with
friends recovering from their fright.
The fire started in the basement and
was soon beyond control. The halls Were
filled with smoke and it was impossible
for many-to have escaped that way. The
fire escapes were mostly in the rear of the
building and these We're used by the men
who could reach them. Those in front.
however, crowded to the windows. 9th.
erS jumped and We're more or less injured.
AS fast AS .lnen reached the scene the
injured were taken to the hospitals or to
the homes of friends. Others not injured
rushed at once for shelter. The air was
bitterly cold. 1t will be some time be.
fore a complete roster Of the injured can
be had. Among the most seriously hurt
ares,
Matt Doyle, injured by jumping, died
at 10 o'clock this morning in the Sisters
hospital.
Frank Rhoades, also injured by jump
ing, is dying.
John T. Carter, burned about head and
neck, not seriously injured.
Mike Judd, right arm broken at the
wrist. He jumped from the third story OF
the hotel.
John Dugan was taken to the Sisters
hospital in an unconscious condition and
is probably suffering from conclusion OF
the brain; his head is crushed and he l.
otherwise hurt about the body. He jump.
cd from the third story.
Ned Gallagher had his back spraincd
jumping from the second odor
Tim Ryan had his leg broken. He fell
from q fire escape at the second floor.
Hugh Boyle left leg broken.
Patrick Gilligan, badly burned about
the body and hands.
The loss On the hotel will amount TO
100000. Nothing is left standing but n
corner of one WALL. The individual losses
of the men will amount to considerat'
Later Reports.
Butte. Mont, March 22.-lt is now as
certained that there were $50 men and
women in the Hale house when it was
burned yesterday. OF these it is believ-
ed about 200 escaped without injury.
The fire started in the bakery south
of the center of the building and had a
rood start before it was discovered. The
blaze was first discovered by Billy White
Jake Yuch and Jack Dooley. who were
awake at the time, and, smelling smoke
went down stairs to make an nvestiga-
ton 1.-Two of the men Immediately at
tached a small hose to hydrant and
began to throw water upon the fire
Aftersa; few minutes work. However. the
men realized that the task was a hope.
less one, and they retreated to give the
alarm. They summoned the Waterman
and rushed to the upper portion of the
building, shouting that the house was on
fire.
BY this time the fire had broker
through The first. offor and smoke filled
the Railways. Dooley and his compan
ions realized that Their was no time to
lose, and they began kicking in the door:
of the rooms: The men thoughtfully
awakened the women help first.
BY this time the alarm had been turned
in and the department responded prompt
~.
The casualties were as fellows:
The dead:
Matt Doyle, aged -, miner at the
Mountain Con iunnad from, tho third