Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-01-24

burning OF the uOntezuma Hotel at Las
Vegas Hot Springs, New NIexico-S xty-
two Guests in the House, But all Escape
with the Loss of their EGects-IneEective
Fire Service.
LAS VEGAS, N. NJ, Jan. Il.
The Montezuma Hotel, situated at the
springs, six miles from the city of Las
Vegas, one of the grandest hoteleries in
point of furnishing and surroundings, was
completely destroyed by fire to-day. There
was no loss of life, but there was of course
great excitement among the guests and
many narrow escapes to people endeaver.
ing to save their property at the risk of
their lives.
The fire was discovered about noon by q
servant who was cleaning up one of the re-
ception-rooms on the second floor to the left
of the main entrance. He saw smoke COM
ing through the floor near the steam coil.
He first ran out into the hall and shouted
fire, and then running back into the room,
tore the radiator from its place. As he did
this, the flames burst through and he had
to run for his life.
The fire must have been burning some
time, for almost at the same instant fire
was discovered by one of the guests, who
also shouted fire az the top OF his voice.
The panic that enSued was almost indie
scribable, and most fortunate was it that
the fire occurred in the day time and not at
might. As it was, the Railways and rooms
quickly filled with a dense volume of black
smoke that enveloped the entire interior OF
the building in almost midnight darkness,
and the utmost confusion prevailed as the
guests and employees rushed madly through
the halls and endeavored to drag their
trunks and other possessions from their
rooms. This confusion lasted for only a
short time, owing to the fact that the peo-
pie were soon all out of the burning build
Ing.
The hotel was not half full, there being
only sixty-two guests, but there was full
complement of servants and employees.
Some of the guests-probably one-iourth-
succeeded in saving portion OF their pos
sessions but the employees lost everything.
OF course while all this was going on ef-
forts were being made to stop tine progress
OF the flames. The fire was SO rapid that
the means of fighting fire provided in the
hotel could not be got to work. The fire de-
partment of the Springs was unable to do
lett Las Vegas in ten minutes after the
alarm was given with the fire department.
the six miles were covered in nine minutes,
and the engines ready for action. It was
found the plugs were an inch smaller than
the city hose, SO no effective connection
was made for some time. Then the only
hope was to save the boiler-house just COM
pleted at a cost of $40, 900 and bath-house
blazed up several times, but was saved.
The former escaped only because the build
ing between it and the hotel was torn down.
The MonteZuma was first opened for bus
mess April z, 1881, and was considered the
equal of any and the superior of most
places of public entertainment to be found
at anv of the popular resorts in America,
both on account of the completeness of its
appointments and the elegance and taste Of
its furnishings. The house could comfort
ably accommodate three hundred guests.
The building was of frame, Queen Anne
style. three stories high, gable rooted.
There were 80 rooms, all furnished in
costly and elegant style. There were la.
general parlors on all the floors, but the
principal ladies' parlor was on the second
floor. This was furnished on a scale of ORR
entail magnifceHce. Tue bridal chambers
were deliberately furnished and finished.
They were furni Sled respectively in blue,
red and ecru, the latter with dark garnet
trimmings. In the upper stories were the
sewing rooms. In the basement were the
billiard-rooms and bowling alleys, all fur.
nlsbed IN native mountain pine. The ladies'
billiard parlor was in the cupola of. the
building. All around the front and sides
of the building extended wide balconies.
TIE fire service was supposed to be per
fec i. aud complete reliance was placed on
1t. There were stand-pipes and hose-reels
on every floor, and it was considered al
most impossible for fire to gain any head
way in the building. The servants, were
completely drilled in the use of the appar.
atus. but all this seems to have been of no
avail when the real test came. j. NJ. Barr,
manager, and his wife, recently married,
lost an their personal affects. He deserves
great credit for his presence OF mind and
courage.
The loss is estimated at $25 1000; insur.
ance, little over 800, 900. The guests, it
is estimated. lose $D,0oU. Everything pos
sible is being done to make them comforta-
bic.
TIE hotel was the property of the Atchi-
son, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Compa-
ny, and it seems to be considered as q mat
ter of course that it will be rebuilt.