Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1911-01-31
Mcdonald & Charters Building Bad
ly Damaged-Firemen Do Faith
full Work for Seven Hours.
LOSS IS over $4,000
Adjusters Are Here to Pay Losses
Repairing the Damaged Building
Commenced Today.

About six o'clock Thursday morn
ing fire was discovered in the Nc
Donald & Charters building, on Main
street, near Fifth avenue. The alarm
was turned in and the firemen were
there in very short space of time.
Difficult to Combat.
When the department arrived on
the scene the smoke was rolling out
of the Lewistown Bakery and it was
found impossible to get into the
building where the fire originated.
For more than seven long hours the
fire boys fought the fire before their
efforts were rewarded. The fire had
gotten under the floor in the base
ment and about the bakery oven,
making it next to impossible to get
| to it. There were three, and part OF
| the time, four streams throwing water
on all parts of the interior of the first
floor Of the building, and it was only
by the use of immense quantities Of
water and the persistent efforts OF
the hremen that the fire was ex-
| tinguished at all. At no time was
/ there any danger of the flames
spreading, as it was under control
from the start, but inability to find
the exact location of the fire made
the job of putting it out long and
tedious one. The weather was cold
and all the flremen were wet through
before they finished their work.
Estimated Losses.
The work OF adjustment is going
on and it is thought this work will
be completed by tonight, ard indica-
tions are that all losses will be set
tied satisfactorily A number of the
adjustments have already been agreed
upon.
The damage done the building has
been agreed upon by the adjuster and
J. H. Charters, one of the owners,
and as near as we can learn, the
amount agreed upon it is in the
: neighborhood of $1,000.
!. The damage to the Knights OF
| Pythias lodge rooms is placed at ST.
500, while there is only $l,100 to
| cover the loss, which amount has
been allowed.
The loss, through smoke and ashes
to the library OF E. G. Worden has
also been adjusted, Mr.. Worden re-
ceiving 5000.
| The loss of the Lewistown Bakery
owned by K. C. Munroe, is placed a
between $4,000 and $1,000, which wa:
insured for $500, making Mr.. Nun
| roes loss about $500. This loss ha
not yet been adjusted.
II C. f. Shoemaker 8, Co. had consid
| erable loss through water and smoke
II of their furniture and immense guam
| titles OF printed and lithograph sta
| tionery and office supplies, as we'll a
| the inconvenience occasioned by be
ing compelled to move. Their los
will reach more than $1,000. Thi
firm is now located in the Brigh
hotel in the room formerly used a
billiard parlor.
II The LewistoWn Trades and Labo
/ Council, who occupied the basemen
| of the building, it is estimated, sus
tanned a loss of about $3.50, withou
insurance.
| The total estimated loss of the fir
is placed at something like $12,50(
. about three-quarters of this amour
= being covered by insurance.
Z Origin of the Fire.
/ There are numerous theories as t
the origin of the fire, but the on
most likely to be correct is that ad
vanced by Chief Bebb The day be
fore the fire an electrical planning ma
chine was working on the floor in tn
basement, and it is thought that som
defect in the wiring caused the foo
to catch fire from the wires runnin
underneath Others are of tn
opinion that the fire was in som
way caused from the furnace iii tn
bakery The exact cause will prof.
ably never be known
| Work of Repairing Started.
! The work of repairing the buildin
was started today, and Mr.. Charter
informed the Democrat that tn
building will be in readiness for ot
cupancy at the earliest date possible
/ The building was completely quite
and it will take some time before th
tenants will be able to again TAX
e possession.
Business Conditions Very Good.