Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1915-11-11
BAD FIRE AT
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State Librarian
State I-il,rarian

has experienced in long time occur
red Sunday night at Diamond block
It involved so many elements of los
that at midnight it was impossible to
give more than rough estimate, but
it will probably run anywhere from
$4,000 to $3.50 and this, except as
to the loss sustained by Mrs. Brem
mer, who conducted the roomine
house on the second floor, is covered
by insurance. Mrs. Bremmer carried
some insurance, the amount not being
known.
How It Started.
It appears that Mr.. and Mrs. James
Mcdonald occupied rear apartment
in the rooming house, this being right
over Sutter Bros. jewelry store and
fronting on the alley. Mrs. McDon
aid was engaged in doing some baking
in a coal oil stove and her husband
had gone over to room in the front
of the building. Shortly after s o'clock
the oil stove exploded Mrs. McDon-
aid was taken out of the apartment
right afterward in semi-conscious
condition, and following this an alarm
was turned in. The firemen made
quick run and rushed up the main en-
trance on Main street with the chem
ical, turning to the left through mar
row hail. which opens upon another
main hall leading to the Mcdonald
apartment. BY the time the flames
had made such headway that they
were unable to approach the scene Of
the blaze close enough to do effective
work, owing to the intense heat. The
hose was then brought into use and
line was run thorugh the alley and
little later a second line was brought
into play BY this time the fire had
worked its way into the ceiling and
was creeping to the front of the build
ing and to right and left from the
starting point. 1t was necessary to
get on the roof to bring the water to
bear and by the time this was accom-
plished a good portion of the roof was
ablaze, while the flames were also
steadily creeping along the numerous
partitions. For about an hour after
the firemen arrived it was believed
that the lower floor would not be af
fected, but at the end of that time the
smoke began pouring into the various
stores in the block, while water, with
which the upper floor was being de-
luged, started to pour down the walls.
Stocks Are Moved.
The valuable stocks in Sutter Bros.
jewelry store and Emil W. Saxl's Art
Music store had been put in shape
for quick handling, and when it was
found necessary to move them they
were carried out in a methodical way,
,,ys%h n mo 90
Practically all of the stocks were taken
out, being put into Lehman's stores.
Democrats Heavy Loss.
In the office and printing establish
ment of the Fergus County Democrat,
Inc, which is a separate company
from the Democrat-News, the situa-
tion was somewhat different. It was
impossible to do anything with the big
paper stock except I'd cover it up, SO
far as possible, while none of the ma
chinery could be moved In this part
Of the building the water poured in
from the ceiling in torrents, while the
basement and first floor were filled
with smoke. Manager Harry E. Lay
was soon at the place and directed the
willing workers in the efforts to pro-
tect the stock as far as possible.
Under Control.
About $50 the fire was under con
troll. but it was not over by any means
the heavy joints in the roof breaking
into flames intermittantly.
Some of the firemen had rather
close calls when a portion of the root
in the rear fell in. Will Devine and
Jimmy McQuaid were at work on g
ladder and falling joist struck them
both. sweeping them to the floor, but
fortunately neither man was hurt in
the least. Bill Heniecke, another fire
man, had his foot rather badly cut
Throughout the fire crowds of people
gathered around the scene. The space
in front of the building was roped of
and here the office fixtures and furni
ture from the office of the Hilger Real
ty company and the stores were frs
carried.
The scene in the whole rear of thu
rooming house at 1O:3O was one O
ruin. The roof was open to the STAR
and in all the rooms in that part o
the building. the furniture was mas
Of debris. Mr. and Mrs. H. j. Bartol
occupied rooms next to those of th
McDonalds. When the oil stove ex
ploder Mrs. Barton rushed in and help
ed carry Mrs Mcdonald out, after
wards assisting her. In the excite
ment she forgot her own property an,
all of the clothing of herself and hus
band, as we'll as sum of money in
bureau, went up in smoke.
The loss will be heaviest on tn
building, where good part of the see
ond story will have to be rebuilt TIL
Diamond block is owned by M.
Woodman J. T. Wunderlin, their par
being occupied by the Art Musi
store, Sutter Bros. and the Fergu
COUNTY Democrat. and the Hilger Rea
ty company, which occupies its ow
part Aside from the roomers IL,
stairs, Dr. ]. T. Foley had his offic
there, and like the others. suffered
although the fire did not reach tina
part of the block.
Estimate on the Loss.
Fire Chief J. c. Bebb made anothe
survev Of the premises Monday an
revised his first estimates He no
believes the total loss will run frol
$4,000 to $4,000. The most of th