The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-24
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BRIDGE BURNED.
An Outrage Committed on the Bandmann
Toll Road.

An Outrage Committed on the Bandmann
Toll Road.
Missoula, Dec. ga most dastardly
outrage was perpetrated early this
morning and the west bridge of the
Bandmann toll road is a smoking mass
of ruins as result. The torch Of the
incendiary was applied most success
fully to the structure, and before the
fire was discovered the flames had
made such progress that it was impos-
sible to save the bridge. The destruc-
ton of the bridge blocks all travel
over the toll road, and all traffic be-
tween Missoula and Bonner must now
be over the dangerous Marshall grade
on the county road.
The fire was discovered between S
and o'clock this morning by the crew
of an eastbound freight train At that
time the fire was burning fiercely in
the middle of the bridge. The engineer
sounded the alarm on his whistle and
aroused the people living in the vicin-
1ty, but they were poWerless to prevent
the destruction of the bridge, At Bon
ner the train stopped and sent mes
sage by telephone to railway head
quarters here. The fire department was
notified and Chief Burger drove out
to the fire at once. The railroad dis
patched switch engine and force
of men in the hope that something
might be done to save the bridge, but
it was too late, and the structure was
entirely destroyed. 1t is seldom that a
more complete destruction is accom-
plished, There is absolutely nothing
left Of the bridge except the center
piece and that is burned almost to the
waters edge. A Standard reporter
went out to the scene of the fire this
morning. At that time the ruin was
complete. From the family of Alex
Do, In, WI, 1x,,;I
the following account of the fire was
obtained;
I'VE Were aroused before o'clock
this morning by the whistling of a
freight train in front of the house. At
first we did not pay any attention to
this, but a man who was sleeping
downstairs called to us that the bridge
was burning. We at once rushed out
and gave the alarm by discharging a
revolver four times. This did not
arouse Mr.. Silver, the bridge and road
tender and he did not show up till
nearly 7 o'clock. When we went out
the bridge was burning fiercely in the
middle, and about o'clock it began to
sag. At about 1880 the middle of the
bridge went into the river, and the
ruins have been slowly burning ever
since"
The Bombards say they heard no
team cross the bridge after the Bon
ner stage went across. The fact that
the fire started in the middle of the
bridge seems to indicate that it was not
an accident. Had it started under one
of the approaches there might have
been some color to the theory that the
blaze started from a fire built by some
tramps camping under the approach.
There is no doubt in the minds of those
who saw the fire that it was the work
| of an incendiary. Chief Burger says
hot h h
was in the middle of the bridge and
was one of the hottest blazes that ne
ever saw. When the bridge went down,
Mr.. Burger says the sight was mag
nificent one. The flames and sparks
shot up hundreds of feet and the heat
was intense.
Mr.. Bandmann was in town with
Mrs. Bandmann, having been engaged
last night in the rehearsal of the play
! that he is to present Monday night. He
did not know of the fire till the news
was brought to town this morning. He
was at a loss to account for the origin
of the fire, unless it had been started
by somebody who wished to do him an
injury.
Two arrests were made this after
noon by the sheriff's office upon COM
plant of Mr.. Bandmann, one of the
arrested men, man named Perry, be-
ing ordered from the Bandmann ranch
day or two ago. The other arrested
party. Alex Bombard, lives in the
house at the west end of the bridge. Tt
is not known what evidence there is
against him.
Mr. Bandmann has the sympathy of
nearly every man in the city. The
bridge was large contributor to his
revenue and it's destruction is a heavy
loss to him. The deed is a most I'M
pardonable one, and if the incendiary is
discovered no punishment can be too
severe for him.