Missoula Arson – 1884
Missoula Arson – 1884
The Missoula fire of September 2, 1884, destroyed 22 buildings. The total loss is $30,000, with insurance of $15,000. Worden & Co. lose eight buildings, valued at $13,000, including the First National Bank building. The contents of the bank vault was uninjured. The fire started in Leber’s bowling alley, and is supposed to have been of incendiary origin. Another attempt to burn Missoula was made the same night. A pile of oil-soaked kindling ignited in a stable near the burned district, was extinguished without damage. A strong force of extra police patrolled the town for some time. The sweeping away of old landmarks of trade has been more than compensated for by the erection of the pretentious buildings, which mark the progress of the city.
The above article is an excerpt from History of Montana by Michael A. Leeson – p 878.