The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-03-25
FIRE DESTROYS
NERO. CO.. STOCK
Continued from FIRST Page)

fire. The few that were there
kept from getting very close to
the building by the foul-smelling
smoke that rolled from the base
ment in clouds. Mattresses can
ned fruit and many other articles
stored in the basement combined
to give off a dark yellow smoke,
~suffocating in its density. Those
who stood at the back Of the
building, after the fire department
first started its work, were the
only ones who could see any flames
for more than an hour. Then for
a while they burst out into the
open but the two streams Of water
which played on them soon brought
them under control.
One Of First Buildings
The building, owned by J. H.
Coffey, was of frame construction,
40 X so, and steel covered. A
solid cement fire wall had been
erected on the west side Of the
building. This saved the Golden.
Rule building and their stock from
any damage except a very slight
amount done by smoke which
sifted through an opening which
had once been a door way but
which had since been sealed. The
building cost $12, 900 to construct
and it is estimated that damage
amounting to between $1,000 and
$4,000 was done. 1t was one of
the first of the larger buildings to
be erected in the business district
when the town was new. Mr..
Coffey intends to rebuild or re-
pair the building, as soon as pos
sible.
The Stock
The stock of the Wolf Point
Mercantile company was owned
jointly by Mrs. Mayme Wigtil and
J.. B. Switzer. On January first
Of this year it invoiced at about
$40 $1,000. The fixtures were val
ued at $4,000. Both were insured
for about one-half Of their value.
The damage to the stock has not
been estimated yet but is nearly
a total loss. Some of the goods
are still fit to be used but it will
be very difficult to dispose of 4.
them for more than a fraction of {
their original value. Joe Vigil
Mrs. Mayme Wigtil's brother-in-
law, has been managing the store
for the last few years. !
Planning Removal Sale {
The morning of the fire would 7
have marked the beginning of a 7
big clearing out sale, preparatory =
to moving into the Zemo build T
between third and fourth :
streets. The reduction sale, to ia T
cilitate the moving Of the stock 4
to the new location had been wide r
~ advertised through large sale 4
bills which had been distributed I
in Wolf Point and the trade ter
For the present no new
plans as to the disposal Of the
stock OF the new location have u
been made as the management is y
awaiting the work Of the insur- !:
ance adjustors. =
The Wolf Point Mercantile Com
oany has been in business for six y
years under the efficient manage = :
ment of members Of the Wigtil " "
and has been one Of the :
leading business firms Of the 2
,ity. Andrew Wigtil, shortly af- IL
.er he was mustered out Of the
army at the end of the World
War, purchased it from a coopera- ~ ~
tive association which had been :
operating in the same location. D
At the time Of the fire Bert -
Switzer and a party of men were -
IN the Southside at the De la r
Hunt place. They had gone over
the day to drive across a I.
lerd of cattle and been marooned
ecause the high wind prevented n n,
he ferry from running. They "
leard the fire whistle blow but
ooking out of the windows of the q,
louise could see nothing and went ~
,ack to bed. -