The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1905-09-26

the firemen the roof was ablaZe. Eight
streams of water were at once direct
ed against the building in hopes of
saving it, but the effort was almost in
vain. The interior of the structure
was gutted and several thousand vol
| umes of the library books totally de-
stroyed.
Wind Blew Gale.
The wind blew mild gale from the
south, carrying bursts of flames across
the street and imperiling buildings
along the north side of Broadway in
the vicinity of Academy.
The Miner building, the Broadway,
Harvard, Argyle and other blocks were
licked by the hungry flames, but good
work on the part of the owners and
the firemen from the hill prevented
what seemed for time general con-
fiagration.
BY IL o'clock every piece of fire
apparatus in Silver Bow county was
at the scene of the fire. The depart
ments from the Rarus, Cora, Parrot,
Original, Gagnon, Anaconda and other
mines, responded with alacrity and
rendered great service. The fire bat
tallions from the Centennial brewery,
from Walkerville, from Williamsburg,
the Butte Reduction works and other
places, answered the general alarm
and lent valuable assistance to the
regulars.
Outside Help Arrives.
About noon telephone messages be
gan arriving from Anaconda, Helena,
Dillon, Missoula and other places, Of
fering the services of the fire depart
ments of the various cities. Anaconda
was one of the first to volunteer and
her offer was accepted. At 1928 three
hose wagons and steamer, with full
crews, accompanied by Mayor McKen-
zie and other citizens, were placed
Record Run.
Exactly 33 minutes were consumed
in making the 28-mile run to this city.
Quickly the apparatus was removed
from the cars, and within three min
utes after the train pulled into the de-
pot Acting Chief Harper and his men
were on the scene and had several
streams playing on the big blaze.
Twenty-Six Lines of Hose.
At o'clock 26 lines of hose were
playing on the different burning build
ings. Every fire hydrant in the bust
ness district from Main to Montana
streets, as far north as Granite and. as
far south as Mercury, was in use. At
this time 5000 gallons of water were
being thrown into the flames per min
ute.
Many of the business blocks were
equipped with standpipes and long
lines of hose, and these were imme-
diately put into action. At the Clark
block, opposite the Symons store, sew
eral lines of hose were working from
the time the fire broke out until late
yesterday afternoon.
Blocks Totally Destroyed.
Maule, York, Barret, Woodwork and
Ogden. Public library.
The following is the estimated loss
and insurance, given by the parties
affected by the fire:
Symons' store, Maule and York
blocks, owned by the New York Realty
about $350,000, $4,000 of which was on
the buildings.
Library building, $4,000; insurance
$4,000 ON building, books and fixtures.
Baltimore block, 5000; insured.
Washington block, 5000; insured.
Barret block, owned by A. I'll. Bar
ret; total loss; insurance amounting
to 60 per cent.
George Woodwork block, owned by
Rose and Pearlson; total loss; partly
covered by insurance.
Walkover Shoe company, loss $751;
900; insurance, $4,000.
Clark block; damage, $4,000; fully
insured.
Goldberg block; damage, $1,000;
fully insured.
Renshaw block; damage, $4,000;
partly insured.
Ogden block; total loss; $4,000 insur-
ance; owned by Hayes Cannon and
James Davis.
Atlantic saloon loss, $4,000; fully
insured.
V. strassberger; cigar store, $500;
total loss; partly insured.
Emery Saville; Eureka Meat mar
ket; total loss, $500; partly insured
Casino saloon, in Renshaw block;
5000.
w. P. Hayes; grocery; damage by
water; small loss.
Ljubibratich & Co.; damage by wa
ter; small loss.
Fred Kuhn, Ogden block; cigar fac
tory; small loss.
Riggle, Barnaman & Rau; barber
shop, Ogden block; loss $500. No in
surance.
Albert Boeltcher; shoe shop, Ogden
block; loss, 5000; no insurance.
Butte Clothing company, loss by
smoke, $500: covered by insurance.
A. Booth company; $1,000; covered
by insurance.
Rosenstein, Clark block; $500; insur-
ance.
Crown Tailoring company; 5000;
fully covered by insurance.