Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-04-16
Despite a Gallant Resistance on the
Part Of the Fire Department J.. L.
Brisht's House Burns.
WAS ENTIRELY CONSUMED
Much OF the Furniture Saved-Slx
Wells Pumped Entirely Dry Dur.
ing the Progress Of the Fire.

The most disastrous fire which has
occurred in Lewistown for many a
year took place last Friday night, or
which occasion the residence OF j. l..
Bright. manager of the Citizens Elec.
trio Co, was entirely destroyed.
The fire was discovered by Mrs.
Fowler, who was alone In the house
at the time, Mr.. and Mrs. Bright be.
ing at a party given by Mr.. and
Mrs. +. r. Warren that evening. Mrs.
Fowler at once telephoned to G.. w.
Hall at his store on Main street and
he Immediately rang the fire bell and
started for his home, which Is situat-
ed directly back of the Bright resi-
dence, where his wife and baby were
and after making provision for their
safety made his way TO the scene Of
the fire.
IL was S:45 when the alarm was
turned in and by nine o'clock there
was In the neighborhood of three hun
dred people in the immediate vicinity
of the fire. The fire boys responded
promptly and were on the spot in ex.
cellent time considering the heavy
grade they had to climb with the ap-
paratus. An attempt was made to
obtain water from the Burk well but
this was unsuccessful. owing to its
depth and a run was made to the old
Stafford well. where an elegant sup
ply of water was obtained for awhile:
from there the pump was moved to
the Scott well, back to the Stafford
well and from there to Bright's els.
tern and finally to the Burk well.
which was used by attaching an ex-
ira length of suction hose.
A willing bucket brigade was organ
lied before the engine was placed In
position and a gallant effort was made
to check the fire. which was found In
Del"ttH INC Jolsts III tHt nooi vi q
small room in the west wing Of the
building. This proved unsuccessful
owing to the difficulty experienced
in properly reaching the fire; however
the fire boys fairly threw themselves
and as soon as water was procured
the fire was checked and seemed to
be under control. II was still in be-
tween the floor and the ceiling and
in spite of the heroic efforts Of the
department it again got the upper
hand and broke out simultaneously in
several places.
The boys were handicapped by the
many moves which had to be made
in order to procure water and 1t seem
ed that as o as the fire was being
subdued that the water supply would
run short and it was necessary to
move the engine TO another well.
They fought the fire fiend with stub.
born resistance, and even when IL
was found impossible 10 ave the
mousse seemed 10th to quit. Everyone
present was willing to help and there
was no lack of assistance either at the
machine or on the buckets.
The department worked regardless
of danger and even toward the last,
when malignant tongues of flame
were shooting from all sides of the
upper story, stayed on the roof and
the yeranda and fought the fire fiend
inch by inch, while the furniture and
household effects were carried out.
Most of the furniture was saved.
though some of II vas disfigured by
the willing. though rather too siren
uous. manner in which 1t was moved.
When il was discovered that the
fire was beyond control. the fire boys
turned their attention to the saving
of the surrounding buildings among
which was the house in which Marion
Burk lives and the Hall residence.
from which Mrs. Hall, with a seven
days old baby. had been removed
earlier in the evening to the Stuart
residence, a short distance away.
Water was packed in buckets and
placed on the roofs OF both the Hall
and Burk residences and a large sup
ply was also kept handy In buckets
In case the water supply from the
engine should fail. Two good streams
of water were obtained at the els
tern close to the burning building,