The Butte Daily Post from Butte, Montana • 3

SHE BUTTE IXTFJi MOUNTAIN. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1905. SWEEPS RE BUTTE BUSINESS SEC was loaded in 25 minutes after the call for help was received. In the meantime, the management of the Washoe smelters had loaded extra hose reels on cars and sent 16 men, members of the works department, to assist the other firemen. The special train from the city to the smelters, picked up the other cars at that place and started for the scene of the fire.

The run of 26 miles was made in 33 minutes. Superintendent Jones and Trainmaster Kingsley of the A. P. were aboard ihf tmin ac wac nkn Mnvnr MrKenzie and Owing to yesterday's fire, which damaged our stock by water and smoke, our store will not be open today many other citizens. Dave Grattan, mas Brownfi eld-Canty Carpet Co.

lllllll Mill only endangered their own lives, but hampered the work of the firemen. Ropes procured and the district cut oil from the general public, but even with this there were hundreds who insisted on going through t'he fire lines with the result there were many encounters between the police and unruly citizens. Many of the latter had partaken top freely of the liquor which was being dispensed by near-by saloons and there were a number of fights. Whole gangs of half drunken men insisted on breaking through the police lines and between 2 and 3 o'clock no less than 30 men were taken to the city jail charged with creating a disturbance, fighting and resisting officers. But this was not all the work required of the police.

Among the lodging houses the sneak thieves were thick and many were captured Iby Detectives McGarvey, Byrne, Mclnerney and other officers who found them either going through trunks or in the act of making times in the basement. Then a burst of flame and smoke would rush from some place, and we would have the work to do over. We got as near the furnace as we could, but the heat and smoke were fierce. "I guess we were there in the basement for two hours. I never saw a worse place to get at a fire in my life.

It was like the underground passages in 'Frisco's Chinatown. Finally the smoke got so bad we were forced to crawl out. It must have been 150 feet that we crawled to get out, and we were all nearly stifled by the time we reached the air. We had to get down on our knees and crawl." Overcome by Smoke. Ed Leary of the Quartz street station and Fireman John Seitz were overcome by smoke and carried out of the basement in an unconscious condition.

They revived at once in the fresh air and remained on duty all day. The firemen lost several fire hose in the fire, some of these being partially burned and others completely. Once a fireplug on Galena street was put out of commission by a burning wall falling upon it. Some of the firemen advance the theory that if the floor over the furnace room hail been blown out with powder at the start, so that the fire might have been reached readily, it could have been smothered before it got beyond control. Rut nobody could see the terrible proportion to which it would grow, and the firemen made the most Herculean efforts to reach it by the means described, and played a flood of water on it in the basement in the two' hours they were fighting it there.

Make Stand at Renshaw. When the walls of the Maule block fell, the firemen turned their attention to the building on the comer of Park street and Renshaw alley, occupied by the California bakery. They knew that this building, a frame structure could not possibly be saved, but they determined to save Renshaw hall on the west if possible. And it was at that point that the greatest fight with the flames took place. The firemen concentrated their force at that point.

A powerful stream was directed into the wooden building, then a roaring furnace. Firemen mounted to the roof of Renshaw hall, a hose was carried up from the street by means of a rope, and then men fought the flames from that point of vantage. Heat broke the windows on one side of the hall and smoke filled the building. It poured out of the windows of the front, and for a time it seemed certain that the men on the roof would be compelled to leave their posts. They remained there, however, and their united efforts served to check the fire at the alley.

Had Renshaw building burned, nothing, it is believed, could have saved the buildings to the west, several of which were of a flimsy character. A Critical Moment. It was while the fight at Renshaw hall was in progress that the library caught fire. The firemen were notified of the trouble, but the moment was a critical one there, and had they left the place, Renshaw hall would have burned and doubtless the buildings to the west. As soon (s a change of base could be made, a crew of men was sent into Academy street and they were soon followed by most of the men who had been working on Park street.

Their Work Effective. All along Park street during the progress of the fire, volunteers were assisting in protecting the buildings across from the York, Maule and Barret blocks. Others fought the fire at the Shodair block, which marked the extreme eastern limit of the big blaze. That block caught on fire repeatedly, but the firemen, regulars and volunteers, managed to put each blaze out before it had gained great headway. At the Pennsylvania block adjoining, a score of persons fought the fire, and in spite of their efforts and of those of the men working on the Shodair block, it seemed for a time that the big building was doomed.

Across the street from the Symons store was the Clark building, which also had a narrow escape. Harry Kennedy, in the Clark building, organized a fire brigade, members of which stationed on each floor, did effective work. Across the street on the corner of Park and Academy, the Goldberg block also resisted the progress of the fire. The heat there was intense. The roof caught on fire, but the blaze was extinguished with trifling loss.

Miners at the Fire. Among those who were early at the scene of the fire were John D. Ryan, managing director for the Amalgamated company, and Superintendent John" Gillie. These gentlemen saw at a glance that the fire was going 'beyond the resources of the city department and they sent word for all apparatus and men that could be spared from the company mines to come at once to the scene. Although it was change day it was not long 'before Chief George Lapp of the Anaconda mine department with the apparatus and men were on the scene and they were soon followed by the mien of the Never Sweat, Mountain Con, Bell, Diamond, St.

Lawrence, Parrot, and other mines. They brought several thousand feet of hose and the way they stretched it and got streams on the burning buildings stamped them as men who understood their business. Soon afterwards the men from the Cora, Montana Ore Purchasing smelter, Lexington and Minnie Healy came with hose and by noon every hydrant for blocks around was pouring forth two streams of water. The miners of Butte rendered valuable assistance to the firemen in keeping the fire within the district burned. Outside Assistance.

In addition to the assistance rendered (by the men of the various mines and the Anaconda brigade, the departments from Walkerville and Williamsburg responded wit)h great promptness with their hose carriages and fought the flames like veterans until late in the afternoon, when the fife was declared under control. The fire department of the Centennial Brewery arrived early and rendered valued assistance in fighting the fire. There were other volunteers and in all instances these men worked with enthusiasm under the direction of the experienced firemen. Work of the Police. i The work of the police from almost the very start of the fire to after midnight was exceedingly difficult.

Under the circumstances the patrolmen performed their duty with credit to the city. Early in the day people began to gather on Park street in the vicinity of the burning buildings in such crowds that they not (Continued from Page One.) pany's mines and other properties on the hill assisted in the work, and other volunteers rendered all the aid possible. At least 25,000 persons saw the fire, and witnessed it from the crossings and other points of vantage. The wind subsided soon after noon, and to that fact may be ascribed no greater loss. Long after the fire was under control the firemen poured water into the blazing buildings.

Throughout the night the streams were turned into smoking basements, and up to this afternoon the firemen were still working in the burnt district. The loss from the fire is difficult to estimate at the present time, and among people who ought to be good judges there seems to be an opinion that the estimates of losses in many cases are considerably over the mark. A. T. Morgan, a well known insurance man, has gone pretty carefully over the burnt district and has considered the conditions, and he puts the total loss at about $600,000 or possibly a trifle more than that sum.

Many others who have looked carefuly into the figures given out by interested persons, are inclined to the opinion of Mr. Morgan, that the loss in the end will be about $600,000. Insurance Men Busy. The insurance agencies in this city are this morning all hard at work giving their companies details and asking that the adjusters be sent here as soon as possible. In the agencies of J.

T. O'Brien, J. H. Fariss and A. T.

Morgan there are about $60,000 each held in insurance. Discussing the fire this morning, Mr. O'Brien said "Walking along Park street just four days ago with some friends I predicted just what has occurred a fire so big that it would get away from our department. This is no reflection on the department, for it is a good one with the appliances at hand. I am out now for the purchase of a steam fire engine.

We need one in this city and I believe if we had had one yesterday the loss would not have been near as great." "Well, I think that would be all right," said Mr. 'Morgan, when asked what his opinion was of the city purchasing a fire engine. "I believe the procuring of a steam fire engine would be a good investment 'because you never know when another fire like that of yesterday is going to occur. But there is one thing I wish to say and that is in reference to the water pressure. I went around to Galena street in company with Harry Symons about 10 o'clock in the morning and I must say the water pressure at that time was just as good as I ever saw it.

The stream from the line of hose which I watched for a few minutes was sufficient to smash the glass in the rear of the Symons building." Good Time to Act. J. H. Fariss had not thought of the question of a steam engine being purchased, but he did think it a good time for the mayor to take up the question of widening Renshaw alley. "There is a great deal of traffic through that alley," said iMr.

Fariss, "and it is so narrow that it is really dangerous. Two teams cannot pass and indeed, if there is a runaway in that alley and a pedestrian is caught there, he is bound to be seriously injured for the reason there is no room to get out of the way. Now is the time to remedy this matter." Some of the insurance adjusters are already in the city, including R. B. Whitte-more of Salt Lake, representing the Phoenix of Hartford, New Hampshire Fire Insurance company and the Protector Underwriter of Hartford.

Mr. Whittemore was in Missoula and came to this city on learning of the fire. R. A. Luke and R.

R. Lockey are ex-peccted to arrive tonight. Sure to Rebuild. The Symons company has taken the small store at No. 8 West Park street for the purpose of transacting business of an office character.

Until the return of J. E. Oppenheimer and William Symons and a meeting of the company is held, no definite action will be taken in the direction of building, but it can be positively stated that just as soon as the insurance adjusters can complete their work and the meeting of the Symons company held, a large and commodious building will be erected to take the place of the one destroyed. Mr. Oppenheimer is now on his way home from New York.

All the employes of the company were paid off at No. 8 Park street today. There were about 200 employed in the store. Others who owned buildings that were destroyed will take steps to erect new buildings just as soon as the losses can be adjusted. Railroad Acted Promptly.

Owing to the fact that John D. Ryan, managing director for the Amalgamated Copper company, telephoned Superintendent Frank Jones of- the Butte, Anaconda Pacific Railroad company to place the entire system at the service of the chief of the fire department of Anaconda, previous to the time of the call for help from the Butte department, the Anaconda contingent were enabled to load their apparatus, with the co-operation of Superintendent Matthewson of the Washoe smelters, to secure additional apparatus and men and to make the run to Butte in record time. It was just one hour and 55 minutes from the time the Butte department called for aid, until the Anaconda department had its steamer in place at the corner of Galena and Main street and was throwing several streams on the fire. Apparatus From Smelter. In accordance with Mr.

Ryan's instructions all possible aid was rendered. The big steamer of the Anaconda department coffee agrees, stick to it If not, use FOOD COFFEE The Sure Rebuilder TUM ter mechanic, was in the cab with the engineer and fireman during the run and took a turn at shoveling coal while a record was being established. The train was in charge of Conductor Lou Savage and Engineer Harry Mann was driving the engine. Fireman Charles Perry, stripped for action, did most of the heavy work. In Quick Time.

To unload the men apparatus and horses at the Wyoming street crossing required only 12 minutes. D. C. Scott, pressman on the Anaconda Standard, who was roused from bed to take charge of the steamer, had the machine in working order by the time it was in place at Galena and Main streets and it was only a moment until the connections had been made under the supervision of Assistant Chief Harper of the Anaconda department, and water was being thrown on the fire. The steamer proved a curiosity in Butte, and a large crowd watched Engineer Scott and his fireman, James McKenzie, as they operated the big nickel plated machine.

All Willing to Aid. In the surrounding towns, the meagre reports of the imense fire which was raging in Butte were exaggerated until it was stated in many places that the entire business portion of Butte was 'being burned. In Helena it was stated that all that portion of Dhe city in the business district between Park and Granite streets and west of Main was burning. There was as much excitement in the capital as there was in Bute, and in every town in the state where the news of the fire was received, similar scenes were enacted the entire populace of each place turning out to hear how the fight against the flames was progressing. In Missoula, similar reports were received and a special train carrying the fire department and all the citizens that board it started for Butte.

At Bonner it was learned that the fire was under control and the special turned back. After that even, other reports were received that the fire was still raging and several Missoulians came to Butte on the regular trains, among them being D. J. Donahue of the Missoula Mercantile company, who stated that he had feared, judging fro mreports, that the entire business portion of Butte was on fire. Horn Offers Help.

General Manager H. J. Horn of the Northern Pacific railway wired offering any assistance in the power of the company in the way of special trains and also wired his superintendents in Montana to communicate with the Butte authorities and stand ready to perform any work requested. Manager Horn wired to the mayor "If we can do anything let us know. Boyle or Gibson will be glad to assist you in any way possible." To the local office of the Northern Pacific, General Manager Horn wired: "Presume McMillan and Whalen are furnishing any help they can.

Have wired Gibson and Boyle to do the same." Proud of His Men. Assistant Fire Chief Jerry Shinnick, who supervised the operations of the Butte fire department in fighting the fire yesterday, in the absence from the city of Chief Sanger, expresses himself as more than satisfied with the valiant work done by his men. "The New York fire department could not have worked any more intelligently or faithfully," said he today, "and I am proud of the achievements of the department in saving the Pennsylvania block, and in checking the fire from sweeping up the hill and through the town." Twenty-one streams of water were playing upon the burning buildings at one time, and the total force of the fire department, 38 men, worked all day and much of last night. Many of the men were up all day and all night, Assistant Chief Shinnick being among these. Heroic Struggle in Basement.

The heroic struggle of the fire department for two hours in the basement of the Symons store to smother the fire ere it should reach the outer walls or roof of the building, is one of the thrilling episodes of the lamentable event When the fire alarm was sounded the firemen rushed to the burning building, and there divided into three squads, which attacked the base of the fire in the cellar and furnace room from three points. One squad entered the building from Park street on the first floor of the drygoods store. It led its fire hose down into the basement by way of the basement stairs. Another squad hurried to Galena street. An entrance under the building was gained by chopping a hole through the six-inch sidewalk there, with considerable labor.

Once underneath the structure, the firemen were compelled to crawl a hundred feet or more and lead the fire hose through narrow alleys between boxes and other obstructions. Attacked From Alley. The third squad secured admission to the basement by means of the narrow alley that ran east from Renshaw alley between the part of the Symons store facing Park and the building facing Galena. The three details of fire fighters focused their fire streams under the building in darkness and smoke upon the apparent site of the Are. "A perfect wall of boxes under the building checked us after we had cut our way through the sidewalk, and turned the water back," said one of the Galena street detail.

"When we cut our way through that, we were hindered by narrow ways between the things In the basement, and the smoke was thick enough to cut with a knife. We got as near as we could to the furnace room and turned the water on It, and sometimes we drove the smoke on the boys that came in by the alley and forced them out. Sometimes they sent the smoke our way, and we had to back. The same thing happened to the men who came in on the first floor. Driven Back by Flames.

"I thought we had the fire a half dozen BOOKS became passed around that the hose had been cut and that the guilty man was in the city jail. Crowd Gather at Jail. About 2 o'clock a crowd began to gather in the city hall alley and it was whispered about that an attempt was to be made to capture Sullivan and hang ihim to a telegraph pole. Jailer Murphy dispatched a messenger to Chief Mulholland, who was working at the scene of the (ire, and in a short time about two dozen officers had been called in from the outside districts to repel any attack that might be made on the jail. Word was also sent to SherilT Quinn and he was soon on the scene it'll several deputies.

By this time there must 'have been nearly 1,000 persons at t'he Park and Broadway entrances to the alley and at each end were stationed several policemen for the purpose of preventing the crowd from getting into the alley. While this was going on outside preparations were being made on the inside for the removal of Sullivan to the county jail. In company with Officers Larkin and McGannon, Sullivan was taken out through the Broadway entrance to the city hall and placed in a secure cell in the county jail without any one in the crowd realizing what was being Police Disperse Crowd. being safely away, the policemen started to disperse the crowd and they met with considerable lesistance which was only overcome after a dozen persona bad been arrested. They were looked upon as ringleaders and were taken from the crowd and placed behind the bars.

As cne was picked out by an officer and placed under arrest a howl wou'd go up from the assemblage and a feeble attempt made to rescue the prisoner, but tnc presence of several officers with their hac' a good effect. One man Juri.ig one of these arrests drew a gun. Realizing suddenly that discretion was the better part of valor, die disappeared before he could be itptured. It was 5 o'clock before the crowd dispersed. The Estimated Losses.

The Symons Dry Goods company building was owned by the New York Realty company and had an estimated value of about $100,000, on which there is an insurance of $26,000, so far as is known at present. In addition to the stock of the Symons Dry Goods company, the building contained the Maule and York lodging houses and the furniture in both places, valued at about $3,000 in each block, was totally destroyed. Harry Symons, head of the dry goods company bearing his name, says he had a stock which would invoice $500,000 and this there is an insurance of $320,000. A large part of this insurance is carried by eastern agencies, as all the leading companies represented here had all that they would be allowed to carry. The A.

II. Barret block, on West Park street, is practically destroyed and the estimated loss is $20,000, with an insurance which will cover the loss. The Jaeky block, in the rear and facing Galena street, which was destroyed, was valued at about $15,000. and there is an insurance of $4,000 on the building. Plate Glass Insured.

The Lewis Dry Goods company had 10 plate glass windows broken and some of its stock damaged by smoke, entailing an estimated loss of $2,000, which is fully covered by insurance. The plate glass windows are insured. The Woodworth block, a rooming house, was owned by Rose Pearlson and was valued at $15,000. There was an insurance on it of $10,000. It was conducted by Ida Bullmore and she estimates her loss on contents at $2,000, with an insurance of $900.

The A. Booth Grocery company places its loss at $1,000 through damage by water to tea and wines, which were open in the basement. Mrs. W. II.

Black, confectionery, estimates her loss, through total destruction of stock and fixtures, at $7,500, with an insurance of $2,000. H. R. Bartlett, confectionery, occupying the Morris place, sustained a total loss and places the value of stock and fixtures at $8,500, on which there was an insurance of $6,000 on the fixtures owned by D. J.

Hennessy. There was no insurance on the stock. Carpet Company Loss. Tht Brownfield-Canty company occupies the Shodair block and estimates its loss through destruction of carpets and curtains from water and smoke at $4,000, which is fully covered by insurance. The Pennsylvania block was damaged to the extent of about $250, while the Lander Furniture company and the Montana Hardware company in this building estimate their loss at about $1,000 each.

The Baltimore block owned by the New York Realty company, estimate damage to the building at about $1,000, while the damage to the Shodair block is placed at about a like amount. The Renshaw hall building was damaged to the extent of fully $1,000, 1 he roof being practically destroyed. The ground floor was occupied by William Hayes, groceries and meats uid he places his loss at $500, while Henry Miller of the Casino saloon, who occupied the other store in the 'building, places his loss at $500. The Washington block was damaged to the extent of $1,000 and the Ogden for about a like amount. Henderson Bros, sustained a loss of about $1,000 to stock, while the Crown Tailoring company and B.

S. Pissot, tailor, sustained a loss, the latter about $500 and the former about $50. Their Loss Light. The Clark and Goldberg building were damaged to the extent of about $500 each. L.

Roscnsteiu, confectionery and fruits in the Clark building, sustained a loss of about $500 which is covered by insurance. Mrs. L. MeKean, who conducted the rooming house in the Shodair block, estimates her loss will be The California bakery, Reckslek proprietors, lose $1,000, while the Saville meat market next door suffered a $500 loss. In addition to these mentioned there were a large number of lodgers who suffered losses and merchants doing business on Park and Galena street suffered trifling, losses lluxmyh water and emoke.

Veterans Sustain Loss. The Lincoln post, Grand Army of the Republic of Butte, lost between 150 and 200 volumes of war records, containing a history of the rebellion, as published by the war department and containing the stories of both sides, in yesterday's fire. The books were in one of the rooms on the upper floor of the library building. The volumes, it is believed, cannot be replaced. They were extremely valuable as reference and historical works.

Of the equipment of the local militia company, whose armory was on the top floor of the library building, all was lost with the exception of 15 Krag-Jorgenson rifles and one box of blankets, which were saved. There were 50 rifles, 3,000 rounds of ammunition in the armory, beside all of the uniforms, knapsacks and other equipment of the company. Colonel Bray, of the Second regiment Montana National guards, estimates the loss at $2,000, with no insurance. O. D.

Builingame, who saed the flag which the Montana regiment of volunteers carried through the war in the Philippines. The flag was in the library building. Origin Not Known. Just how the fire originated is unknown and will probably remain so. When William S.

French and Charles Gunderson, the night watchmen, left the store at 8 o'clock yesterday morning, they claim to have left everything all right. The day man Nesbit Frazier, whose shift begins at 8, made this statement "As I went on watch I made my usual rounds of the building. I visited the boiler room first and found the fires apparently in their ordinary condition. I then went to the other portions of the building and on returning to the storeroom floor about half an hour later I detected the smell of smoke. I hurriedly traced it to the basement and to the boiler room.

The smoke was then so dense that I could not reach the boiler room, and then I turned in an alarm. "When I left the boiler room after my first inspection, the fires were comparatively low and there was but little draft left under the fires, and the space in front was clear of anything which might become ignited from the furnace. "How the fire originated is a mystery to me. There must have been an explosion of coal gas beneath the boilers, and this, blowing open the doors, must have thrown out, also, some live coals which struck the woodwork near the elevator shaft." TEA Do you think all tea is alike Do you think all tea is alike Your grocer returns your money if you donl like Schilling's BesU off with valuables from the Clark and Goldberg blocks. Officers were stationed at the main entrance of these two blocks, but still the sneak thieves were able to get in iby claiming that they were roomers.

Thieves Are Persistent. One officer said he thought tin-'" have been 5,000 persons who to have rooms in the Goldberg block. They went about their work in the most barefaced fashion. Detective McGarvey caught one man in a room leisurely examining a trunk and in reply to a question declared it was ihis own trunk and that he was just going through it. He was taken to the city jail.

Between peace disturbors and thieves there were about 50 arrests made by the officers during the day and early evening. Dan Harrington, the patrol driver, had such a dnv as he will never forget. Will his team he responded in the early t-to the calls for assistance, and until late in the afternoon he was continually on the go. Shortly after noon the patrol horses were called into requisition to bring the big Anaconda steam fire engine from the Butte, Anaconda Pacific depot to the corner of Main and Galena streets and they proved equal to the occasion, although they showed signs of their hard work. Men Well Handled.

Chief Mulholland and Captain McGrath directed the movements of the men in a most admirable The entire force was on duty, a general call being sent in at noon bringing out all the men who had only gone off shift at 8 o'clock in the morning. In order to allow the men who had been on duty Saturday night and all day to get some rest, a number of specials were sworn in last night and they, with a number of regular imembers of the force, guarded the burned district during the night. One of the first of the police officers to reach the scene of the fire was John Kemple, who lives in the Argyle block. Kemple was on the night shift, but he heard of the fire almost the moment the alarm was sent in, and a few minutes later was in Renshaw alley. Not Alarmed at First.

"The smoke was then coming out of the basement of the Symons' store," he said. "It was then 9 o'clock "and a few minutes later Mr. Symons himself appeared. At first he didn't seem to be much alarmed. We all thought the blaze could be easily controlled, not realizing until later how difficult it was to reach the flames." Policeman Jack Weston was also on the ground early.

In company with other officers he helped guard the entrance of the store and later to keep the crowds out of the restricted district. "It was a mighty difficult thing to do to keep the people out of the fire limits," be said. "They would persist in crossing the ropes, and as the lines had to be thrown back several times, the patrolmen had all they could do in controlling the crowd." Charged With Cutting Hose. Early in the day a man who gave his name as Michael Sullivan was arrested by Policeman Larkin on a charge of cutting hose. It is not believed that Sullivan is the man's right name, but he positively insists that it Is.

It is claimed by several persons that Sullivan deliberately walked up and cut some of the fire hose with a knife. Persons who saw him called the attention of Officer Larkin to the fact and lie immediately gave chase to the man who Tan away. He soon overtook Sullivan and placed him in the city jail. Mike Tonrey told The Inter Mountain that he saw Sullivan cut the hose and there were several others who also saw the man take his knife and deliberately cut it. Soon after Sullivan was taken into custody the word CASTOR I fi For Infants and Children.

The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature.