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Show Served 400 Indians .... Destroyed - By Fire A 73-year-old land mark, the Ouray Trading Post, claimed to be the first Indian trading post established in the Uintah Ba- jsin, was leveled by fire early Tuesday morning. The trading post, owned and operated by Austin Wardle, was established in approximately 1878 to serve the Ute Indian tribe that had come into the area, and was serving approximately 400 members mem-bers of the Ute tribe when it burned. 1 The owner of the post, Austin Wardle, who is also bishop of the Leota ward, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and his family lived about 75 feet from the post, and when they left their place of business about 6 p. m. on Monday, everything was in order. An Indian youth summoned them about 11 p. m. from their beds, but poor com- munications and only river water wa-ter made fire-fighting almost impossible, and the post, with its entire contents, was destroyed. de-stroyed. The building also housed the U. S. post office for that area. According to Hollis G. Hullinger, Hul-linger, president of the Roosevelt Roos-evelt L.D.S. stake, and an insurance in-surance agent, who investigated the fire Tuesday, estimated damage dam-age will range from $12,000 to $15,000, and was partially covered cov-ered by insurance. A postal inspector had gone to Ouray Wednesday to assist in opening the safe, which held the various post office records, supplies, etc.. but was unable to open the metal safe, which had become sealed as a result of the fire, and had to be opened by use of a torch. An insurance inspector was also expected today. to-day. In addition to the stock and fixtures of the store, which is the only business establishment in the Ouray area priceless heirlooms heir-looms of silk, crystals, Navaho rugs, and woolen goods belonging belong-ing to Mrs. Wardle were lost. Miscellaneous ward supplies were also destroyed, but can be replaced, Mr. Hullinger reported. report-ed. None of the ward records or funds were in the fire. Mr. Wardle was not able to be reached this morning for a ' statement as to what his plans : would be to rebuild the post, or what progress had been maae about opening the safe. So far as has been determined, cause of the fire is unknown. |