The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-07-27
FIRST RATHDRUM PAPER.
Remnant Of 1883 Courier Found.
-Musgrove's Paper.

-Musgrove's Paper.
A fragment Of the 18th number Of
Volume Of The Kootenai Courier,
a six column weekly paper publish
ed in Rathdrum by Mark w. Mus
grove, in 1883, recently found its
way into the hands Of Deputy Sher-
if A. A. Merritt. II is probably the
only copy ofthe Courierin existence.
| ]. M. Wood took it from the walls
of one Of Rathdrum's Oldest houses
where it had been pasted in the early
days. BY the courtesy Of Mr.. Mer-
ritt we have looked over the relic.
The date Of the fragment is Saturday
September 22, 1883. Less than one
fourth Of the local news page re-
mains, and on il is the first para
graph Of the story Of Rathdrum's
first great fire. In large type at the
top Of the column is the caption
Burned Out. A Disastrous Con-
fagration in Rathdrum. The Prin-
cipal Business Portion in Ashes.
Then follows the paragraph which
we copy:
We are called upon to chronicle
the fact that the principal portion Of
our once pretty little town is in
ashes. In one short hour the de-
vouring element has swept through
our streets and seven business hous-
les are level with the ground. There
Twas no outcry to warn the sleeping
people that their property twas dis
appearing as rapidly as powerful
element could destroy. In the ST.
Hence which precedes the dawn the
flames broke out and in an incredi-
BILE short space of time the CONNER
. cial, an old rickety frame building
was enveloped in flames. ]. G.
Brophy's saloon was the next to
catch fire and in very short time
, was given up as lost. On the other
side Of the hotel and twenty feet
away was the KooTENAI CoUR-
Ter Office, and although severa
, friends stood in valiantly to help
save the material, it was impossible
to save very much. When the fire
broke out Mr.. Mark w. Musgrovt
was sound asleep at his residence
! several blocks away and when he ar
rived on the ground the rear Of tn.
office was on fire. A few type ane
the composing stone had alread,
been moved out, but the press, No
8 Washington Hand Press, wa.
standing as usual, no one under
standing how to take it apart. Al
quickly as possible the bed was lift
' ed off and carried out. There wer'
moi enough men to handle it yet TIL
e press was carried to the door Will,
b the building was burning down
The hotel at this time was one shee
0 Of fire and it Was SO hot on the plat
! form that Mr. Musgrove, not desir
< ing to expose his friends longer t,
l. such intense heat, told them to leav
u the press. although twenty five fee
further would have placed it out @
9 danger,
y The rest of the story is lost
! Among the personals we find tn
following; @&
" c. B. King, the well known For
Cmur d'Alene post trader, cam
!, over Tuesday to look at the ruin
and sympathize with our citizens.
! Another item tells Of the ricl
i Occur d'Alene gold diggings.
/. says: The miners care for nothing
9 but the nuggets" and $50 to $2.
per day to the man is no unusua
d find"
$ The advertising columns sho,
that II. Melder was probate judge
Geo. B. Wannacott. treasurer, ant
Marion Martin, assessor. A motto
to taxpayers is signed by "A. NJ
Martin, collector. = j. Hollemal
. was district attorney.
; Another fragment Of the Courie
IS has been handed to us by Franl
e Pixley. 1t is but half a column ant
is dated Saturday, December 8
1888. Among the items on thi