The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-12-17
SHELTER BLAZE
SEEN INCENDIARY
EARI,Y-DAY FIRE IN ANACONDA
CUT OFF PRODUCTION
IN BUTTE
Guards Were Employed to Watch Mine
AS There Was Suspicion That the
Anaconda Fire Was the Work Of a
Foreign Copper Syndicate.

In 1908 Tic lOWCI "OAnS Va CHS
was destroyed by fire. 1t was 10
Gated a mile below the city on the
north side of Warm Springs creek.
About half the plant was de-.
stroyed." The company maintained
its own fire department and carried
its own fire insurance. Following
is a summary taken from the files
of the Butte daily press:
THE loss of the Anaconda company
by the fire at the lower works-and its
probable effect on Butte and the copper
Syndicate generally, formed the pre-
vailing topic of conversation in*athe
city today. It is learned from parties
who came up from the Shelter city
this morning that the belief is firmly
fixed that the fire was of incendiary
origin. The fire broke out in the middle
Of the roof of the smelter ore house:
been. Not even a stove was kept there,
so q fire by accident was utterly i'm
possible.
"The fire started between six and
seven o'clock in the morning at the
time the men were changing shifts, a
time when an incendiary might op-
crate with the least chances of dis
covery. No one in Anaconda regards
the fire Is an accident. They all feel
that it is the result of a malicious plan.
While the officials make no statement
it is certain that a vigorous investiga-
ton will follow.
1.-THE loss will be much greater than
was indicated in yesterdays estimates
The building was 80 by 600 feet. 1t re-
quired fore than a years labor by. zoe
mechanics to construct it. It contained
40 mammoth Brueckner furnaces and
80 mating furnaces. Expert examin-
alton of the ruins this morning brought
forth the statement that, allowing sc
percent recovery or the machinery, 1t
will require about hree-quarters Of a
million dollars to repair the damage
with a possibility that the loss may
total a million dollars. Loss of pro-
duction must also be estimated and
with the present selling price of copper
this will also be a considerable amount
1.-THE smelter just destroyed was the
ground work of what was to be made
the greatest copper smelter in the
world. It embodied many new smelling
ideas that have been put into oper:
alton by Otto Stahlman the superin-
Grafton just long enough to prove that
it was a complete success. Mr.. Stahl-
man had gone to Europe to study
plans, it is believed, for the construc-
ton of, a copper refinery.
ION MI. Days arrival in Butte he
gave orders to close syndicate mines
for the present. This throws 600 men
out of employment temporarily but il
is hoped that it will not be for long
The suspension is necessary because
the ore houses Of the company are
filled to Overlooking. The destruction
Of the plant makes necessary a reduc-
ton Of the quantity of ore hoisted.
"Mr. DAILY says it will be possible
to speed up the upper works to a con-
siderable extent, so much so that the
output will not be greatly reduced. The
lower concentration will be partially OPP
Grated and the concentrates used at
the upper works to crowd the furnaces
AS for the plans for rebuilding. Mr.
DAILY declined to make a statement
The plans await the decision of j.. B
Haggin. The fire will not affect the
financial standing of the Anaconda.
Guards will be employed to watch
the Anaconda mine to protect it from
possible damage at the hands of mis-
creants. Mote-There was a strong
suspicion that the Anaconda fire was
the work Of a foreign copper syndicate
which sought to reduce production in
order to maintain prices it was as
serted IS, 1885,"