Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1921-10-13

With nothing but the most primitive
utensils to fight with, the citizens OF
Monarch were compelled to stand al
most idle and watch whole block Of
the business section Of their town be-
ing destroyed by fire which started
about l.30 o'clock in the morning Sun
day. A clean sweep of every building
from and including the old postoffiee
building to the Brazee garage was
made and practically none of the con-
tents of any Of the burned buildings
were saved. The fire spread rapidly,
requiring only about two and half
hours to complete its destruction, and
the heat from the burning buildings
was so intense that practically all ef-
forts to salvage property was futile.
The total loss will approximate $780,
GOO. with comparatively little insur=
ance.
The buildings destroyed were the
old postoffice building, owned by Roy
Brady Of Great Falls, loss $4,000 with
no insurance; Monarch Mercantile
company building, with all stock and
fixtures, value of building $4,000, with
$4,000 insurance. The building was
owned by ID. J. Condor of Neihart The
stock of the Monarch Mercantile com
pany in the buildisg is estimated TO
inventory $4,000, upon which there
was an insurance of SIS. 000.-The- up
per story was occupied by H. S.
Haney, manager and principal owner
in the Monarch Mercantile company
as a dwelling and the furnishings and
personal effects of the occupants were
totally destroyed with loss of ap-
proximately $4,000 upon which 81 600
insurance was carried. The records
and books Of the concern were in the
safe and it is thought that they were
intact.
Meat market of Oscar English, loss
81, 900, no insurance.
Residence of Sam Giesey, loss s 900
with no insurance.
Residence and blacksmith shop of
Albert Brink, loss between $4,000 and
$4 900, with no insurance. .-g
Soft drink and confectionery store
of Henry Danielson, loss between S3.-
900 and $4,000 with no INSURANCE.
Pool hall of o. X. Woodahl, loss be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000, with 81 900
Vacant lots intervening at the north !
and south limits of the fire was the I
only thing that prevented the flames
from sweeping practically the whole I
town. and during the progress Of the /
fire the contents Of adjoining build I
ngs were moved to places Of safety
and only returned when the flames
fed down. At one time the fire I
hFeateg@eri -sffe Great Northern depot
ocated across the street and railroad
from the burned build
rgrs1 and the agent, Hugh Wilkins e.
moved the records to a place Of safety.
The heat was so intense that at times
he workers could not approach within
90 feet Of the conflagration.
The origin Of the fire is mystery
Mr. and Mrs. Haney spent the evening
It the home of Herman Nebei at Al
fright at card party, returning IN
he early morning to find their home
n flames and a realization that their
personal possessions consisted Of thsT
lothing they happened to have on.
Their loss is better imagined than de-
cribed In addition to the numberless
rticles made dear by association and
possibly Of no great intrinsic value,
drs. Haney is known to have pos
essed very valuable collection of cut
lass.
Ernest Haney. an employe Of the
ompany. went to the store at about
/ o'clock in the evening, being called
rom his home 10 serve d late Gus
omer for oil. and states that at that +,
fme there was nothing to warn him Of /
ire. as he noticed no smoke or the I
dor Of smoke and anything unusual /
bout the store. The fire was dis
overed by Albert Brink, who was !
wskened by the light Of the fire, and I
t that time the whole building Of the ]
company Was a mass or \
ames II appeared 70 him that the 81
re originated in the northwest cor =
~ ~ the warehouse. which was under y
le same roof az the store proper. No d
ae was injured in the fire.
The Monarch Mercantile company r. r
Ie successor Of the oldest mercantile ,.
,use In Monsrch The business was 0