The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1912-08-26
RESERVATION CITY MEETS DIS.
AsTER uNFLiNcHiNcLv AND
PLANS FOR FUTURE.
PLENTY Of CONFIDENCE
Banks Open Doors Before Embsrs
Have Cooled. and While Smoke Still
Curle From the Ruins Of His Store
Stanley Seeares Lets Contract for
New Building.

Saturday the Roman business men
were struck dumb with the appalling
disaster, which. In an incredibly
short space of time. had wiped out the
work Of the past three years and
brought the thriving town of Roman
back to the mark It had long left be-
hind. Yesterday morning tee smoul-
dering embers were still there to re-
mind them of their loss. but the night
seemed to have dulled the keen edge
of their grief and the spirit which
made Roman the thriving town that
II was prior to the disaster, became
manifest. On every hand were heard
plans OF reconstruction. The feeling
OF irreparable loss had been replaced
by n desire to make Roman a better
and bigger town than II was before
the conflagration.
Yesterday afternoon Roman pre-
sented n tragic. but interesting sight
For miles around people had come to
gaze upon the scene of the disaster
Blanketed Indians sat stolidly survey
ing the blackened remnants. Many
automobiles from Missoula and neigh
boring towns brought their quota. In
grim contrast to the crowd was the
scene of the conflagration. Clouds of
smoke still curled from the heaps OF
timber which represent Romans busi-
ness section. Adding to the general
air of desolation were the vaults Of the
Roman State Bank and the First Ma.
tional Bank. which were still upright
and unharmed by the fierce blaze
which had swept around them. Oc-
casionally an exploding can of pre-
serves would punctuate the silence.
The scene was not one to encourage
optimism, but the cheerfulness with
which the real sufferers accepted the
portion that fate had handed out to
them, made one feel as II after all the
disaster was to make the town q bet
ter one.
A. j. Brewer, president OF the Roman
State Bank. was conducting the affairs
of his institution In q building leased
temporarily. The contents of the
vault were not harmed and he esti-
mated the Institutions loss ut about
$3.50. The First National Bank will
reopen within few days, as soon as
II can find suitable building.
Optimistic Seoarce.
Stanley Scarce, who was probably
the heaviest loser Of all, is not the
kind to croak about his hard luck. He
had taken more precaution against fire
than any OF the others and had lost
the most His concrete Prevails
crumbled like dust and proved to be OF
no avail In stemming the tide of flame.
Mr.. Scarce let the contract for a tenn
porary building yesterday afternoon
and work is to be commenced at s
O'Clock this morning. Mr.. Scearce
announced that In place of the de-
stroycd building he would erect fire
proof structure which would be credit
to the town of Roman. This building
will be commenced as soon as the con
struction OF the temporary building
has made 1t possible for business to
get going again.
Andrew Singer, whose hotel was
burned to the ground. will erect 9
restaurant In Its place. He feels
that the town OF Roman is just goint
to gbe good. Michel Pablo will begir
the reconstruction Of his buildings
within short time. The Pastim'
pool hall IL to be rebuilt, and, In fact
all OF the owners OF the propert!
burned are making arrangements 70
new structures.
An. Explanation.
Many theories were advanced In re
gard to the origin OF the fire, but tn
one which, seemed TO have the mos
credence among the Roman people 1
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