The Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (New Albuquerque, N.M.) 1882-1884, 1882-10-01
THE FIREY FLAMES.
What Might Have Been a Disas-
trOus Fire in Las Vegas
Yesterday.
The comiqus Dance Hall in the New Town
of Las Vegas Burned AMI oShsr
Buildings Threatened.
The Burning of the Steamer Robert E. Les on
the Mississippi River Near Vicksburg,
Mississippi
The Pilot and Enginser Of the Inflated Steamer
Bravely Remain at Their Posts Until
the Boat Reaches the Shore.
Large Loss of Life Among Both Passenger
and Crew Occasioned by the Rapid
Spreading of the Flames.
special Dispatch to the Jonrnal.

Special d.spatch to the Journal
Las VEGAS, Sept. 3O.-At an early
hour this morning East Las Vegas was
the scene of one of the most destructive
conaagrations that ever befell this city.
AT about a. m. fire started in the
Comique dance hall, and the building
being of light material was a mass Of
flames before the affrighted inmates
who had retired, could realize their
situation.
The alarm was Immediately given,
but owing to the lateness of the hour,
the flames had gained lrodigeous
headway before All effective force could
be assembled. Soon after the flames
wers discovered. the Comique, Reidlin-
gers beer bottling establishment and
saloon, the Palace saloon. and the Chit
nese warehouses and outhouses in
their rear were a mass of flames.
Everything was uproar and confusion,
and the screams of frightened women
mingling with the shouts of excited
men, made a perfect pandemonium.
The hose company answered the
alarm with wonderful promptness, con
sidering the lateness of the hour. and
exerted strenuous efforts to stay the
progress of the flames. All tic availa-
be hose was brought into requisition,
and the frail buildings Immediately adj
joining the burning buildings were,
promptly torn down.
The roof of the Topeka House
caught fire several times, but was
promptly extinguished by the bucket
brigade.
At one time it was feared that o.
L. Houghton's hardware store and
Locke & Bonds saloon building would
fall victims to the devouring element.
but thanks to the efforts of the fire
men and an intervening adobe wall
they were saved.
The losses are heavy, but the exact
amount is not yet known. The origin
of the fire is supposed to have been in-
cendiary.
steamer Burned with Many Victims.
New ORLEANS, La, Sept. 3J.---The
Picayune's Vicksburg special says
At 3 o'clock this morning fire broke
out in tile steamer R. E. Lee on her
trip to this city, and about thirty miles
below here. resulting in the total de-
struction of the boat, with terrible
loss of life. The following list Of per-
sons are known to be lost:
Cabin passengers: Mr.. Painter, ,Marys-
Vile. KY, Gus Martin, New Orleans;
Miss Adams, music teacher, on her
way to Baton Rouge, an infant of Mrs.
Zearle, of Vicksburg. and two colored
women beside the following: Frank
Sones, fireman; Ophelia Jones and
Martha Webb, second and third cham
Der maids; Thomas Fisher, Joe Mer-
ritt, Scott Cox, Thomas Collins, Irwin
Duncan, cabin boys; Samuel Brown,
roustabout; Karde, carpenter; William
Westmaker, second engineer; all the
cooks and help except the pastry cook.
The books of the boaS ind the United
States mail were iss together with
a car load of 500 = of cotton.
NEW ORLEAN 30.-The fol-
lowing passengers v re saved T. j..
Payne, Texas; c. H. Chapman, of st.
Nance: George ROuke, New Orleans;
III. NJ. Fornam, st. Louis; Miss Abra-
hams. Chicago; Hy. Mason, Monroe.
La; J. C. Scott, New York; II. W
Neeves, New York; S. M. Friedman,
Vicksburg; G. B. Berger, Easton. Pa;
w. w. Cyoh, Carlysle, Ill; S. II. Lud-
ington, New Orleans; Mrs. Searles,
Vicksburg Miss; two children, names
unknown.
i The steamer left this city last
Tuesday for her first trip for
i've months. The announcement
of the destruction by fire of that grand
old steamboat, Robt. E. Lee, will be
honored with universal sorrow, the
champion of the Mississippi waters,
lfavorite of all the people from New
Orleans to Vicksburg. and named af-
ter the greatest of heroes and states
men. Her destruct on just at the be-
ginning of the cotton season and after
having un iergone thorough over
hauling, W i be a serious blow to her
owners, as well a to the trade in
which she a. been engaged.
The teamer left Vieksburg yester-
day ev,napg Tor New Orleans, with 500
bales of cotton and good list of pas
isengers. While opposite Point Pleasant
at 3:30in the morning. she was dis
covered to be on fire and WAS immedi-
ately headed for shore and linded at
Laucatau plantation 35 miles below
Vicksburg, In few minutes she was
completely enveloped in flames. Twen-
Fty-one persons are believed to have
persisted, including many of the crew.
The steamboat, j. N. White passed the
wreck about a. M, and took many Of
i the passengers and crew to Vicksburg.
i Coronelius and Robert Smith pilotes.
We're both burned and otherwise hurt.
The fire is supposed to have originated
in pantry room. So rapidly did the
flames spread, that it WAS impossible
for the passengers or officers to save
Il anything, except what they Lad on
at the time ClDtain NJ : Cannon