The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-19
|NCEND|AR|ES SUCCEED IN
THEIR DEV|L|SH WORK
Apply the Brand to the Sorehouse of the Foundry De-
partment-Loss Is Estimated at About $50, 900.
Fortunately Flames Are Confined to
One Buildng-Fire Is Now
Under Control.

At 12:+5 o'clock this morning a fire,
evidently of incendiary origin. was dis
covered in the large store house of the
Anaconda Copper Mining company's
foundry department on Adams street
near Sixth The building was de-
stroyed entirely. together with a stock
that Superintendent John s Hickey
roughly estimates at from $4,000 to
$4,000. There was no insurance.
The building itself was of nominalva
ue, being constructed of corrugated
iron over wooden frame. 1t was built
about three years ago, was about 1s0
feet long and so feet wide and was of
warehouse form. In the eastern end
was the office of Storekeeper Charles
Hickey. All the stock books and rec
ords were saved. although some of
them We're a trife scorched.
The big structures main floor was
packed from end to end with valuable
stock. consisting of electrical supplies,
tin plate. hardware and fittings of all
kinds. while in the basement was an
other large stock, including great piles
of boxes, knocked down. There was
also great quantities of cotton waste
stored in the building.
This made up ii stock that not only
took fire rapidly but retained its heat.
The fire burned fercely for nearly two
hours and then smouldered. giving of,
a scorching heat despite the great guam
titles of water poured upon it. The
amount of smoke and flame sent up WIS
large enough for the burning Of an en-
tire village, and continued long enough
to give residents in distant parts of
town an idea the city was on fire.
While making his rounds at 12:45
o'clock Watchman Fred NJ. Bliss dis
covered a fierce fire burning on the
wooden platform on the south side of
the building, about 50 feet from the east
end of the structure. The blaze had
already eaten under the corrugated iron
walls and was commencing on the
stock. 1t was spreading with great
rapidity.
Mr.. Bliss turned in a fire alarm and
then rushed to the office of Storekeeper
Bliss to get out the books, papers and
records.
In three minutes the building seemed
to be on fire from end to end. The
stock ignited like tinder
The city fire department responded,
laid two lines of hose in short order and
commenced the unequal fight.
On the north of the burning building
and separated from it by only 40 feet is
the long steel house of the foundry de-
partment almost a duplicate of the
storehouse, paralleling it, but running
further east Vigorous and successful
efforts were made to save it by keeping
it's blistering sides wet.
About 70 feet distant from the store
house on the south is three-story
building, in which powder and other
stock are stored. Because of the char
actpr of it's contents, it also was kept
wet down. Now and then when the
hose had been withdrawn for a few
minutes some portion of the crowd
would see the steam arising from the
bricks. mistake it for smoke and nearly
start "A stampede in the big crowd.
1t was found that the city fire de
partment, although splendidly man
aged and doing excellent service, was
unable to cope with the fire. The up
per works fire department responded
quickly. bringing the steamer and
hose wagon. Then came the lower
works department with hose. By this
time the city department had secured
three streams. The foundry depart
ment had two streams of its own,