The Red Cloud chief., 1884-01-25
A COSTLY BLAZE.

Burning Of the MOntezuma Hotel At In
Vegas Hot Springs, New Mexic0-Sixty
two Guests in the House, But all Escap<
with the Loss of their Enects-InefYectivs
Fire Service.
LAS VEGAS, N. NJ, Jan. II.
The Montezuma Hotel, situated at thu
springs, six miles from the city of La.
Vegas, one of the grandest hoteleries il
point of furnishing and surroundings, wa.
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 endeavor
ing to save their property at the risk ol
their lives.
The fire was discovered about noon by q
servant who was cleaning up n 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
Ore, and then running back INTO the room,
tore the radiator from its place. As he did
this, the flames burst through n he haG
to run for his life.
The fire must nave been burning some
time, for almost at the same instant fire
was discovered by n of the guests, who
also shouted fire at 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
night. As it was, the Railways and rooms
quickly filed with q dense volume of black
smoke that enveloped the entire interior of
the building in almost midnight darkness,
n the utmost confusion prevailed as the
guests and employees rushed madly through
the halls and e~ndeavored to drag their
trunks and other possessions from their
rooms. This confusion lasted for only q
short time, owing to the fact that the peo-
pie we're soon all out of he burning build.
The hotel was not half full, there being
only sixty-two guests, but there was q full
complement of servants and employees.
Some Of the guests-prObably One-fourth-
succeeded in saving a portion of their pos
sessions but the employees lost everything.
OF course while all this was going on 81.
forts were being made to stop the progress
o. 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.
anything to save the hotel. A special train
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 tor some time. Then the only
hope was to save the boiler-house just com.
pleted at a cost Of $4,000 and bath-house
that cost $1,000. The latter's cornice
blazcd up several times, but was saved.
The former escaped only because the build.
ing between it and the hotel was torn down,
The Montezuma wa, first opened for bus.
mess April Z, 1881, and was considered the
equal of any and the superior Of most
RyAAAo ~ nyhlsu rxAvH - h4 fo,.-A
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 Anns
style, three stories high, gable rooted.
There were go rooms, all furnished In .
costly and elegant style. There were ID.
dies and gentle slen's reception rooms and
principal ladies' parlor was on the second
floor. This was furnished on q scale of ORR
entail magni1cence. Tue bridal chambers
were deliberately furnished and finished.
They were furnished 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
~billiardrooms and bowling alleys, all fur.
nished 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.
The fire service was supposed to be per-
feet, and complete reliance was placed on
It. 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. TIE servants were
drilled in the use of the appar.
atus. but al this seems to have been Of no
avail whom the, real test came. j. n. Barr,
manager, and his wife, recently married,
lost all their personal affects. He observes
great credit for his presence of mind and
courage.
The loss Il estimated at $4,000; insur.
q little over $780, 900. The guests, It
is estimated. lose $3O,0O. Everything pos.
sible is being done to make them comforta-
BILE.
The hotel wa the property Of the Atchi.
SON, Topeka & Santa Es Railroad Compa-
ny, and it seems to be considered as . mat
ter OF course hat IL viii b rebuilt q
An ExPert's View In the Mutt Trial.
d t4-a-.lF~t PIrrsBuR0. Jan. II.
In the Mutt trial to-day DR.. Smith Fuller,
the family physician, said Mutt had pro.
meditated the killing OF Dukes, and that he
had arrauOod ovoruthiuU for khn a~c~nfanca