The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-24
A COSTLY BLAZE.
Burning OF the Montezuns Hotel at la,
Vegas Hot Springs, New MexicO-S'xty.
two Guests in the HOUSE, But all Escape
with the Loss of their Efects-Ineffective
Fire Service.
LAS VEGAS, n. NJ, Jan. Il

0
! 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 ts-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 oil
! their lives.
The fire was discovered about noon by @
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
Gre, and then running back into the room,
tore the radia' or from its place. As he did
this, the flames burst through and he had
! 10 run for his life.
The fire must have been burning some
time, for almost at the same instant fire
was d .Scovered by one of the guests, who
also shouted fire a. 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 dense volume of black
smoke that enveloped the entire in error of
the building in almost midnight darkness,
and the utmost confusion prevailed as the
guests and employees rushed madly through
the halls and endeayored to drag their
trunks and other possessions from their
rooms. This confusion lasted for only
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 sxty-two guests, but tnere was full
complement OF servants and employees.
Some OF the guests-prObably one o,rth-
succeeded i'll saving a portion of their pos
sessions but the employees lost everything.
Of course while all this was going on Ell
forts were being made to stop the progress
o. the flames. The fire was so rapid that
the means of fishting fire provided in the
hotel could not be got to work. The fire de-
partment of the Springs was unable to do
anything o save the hotel. A special train
lett Las Vegas in ten minutes alter the
alarm was given with the fire department.
Tue six miles were covered in nine minutes,
and The engines ready for action. 1t was
found the plugs were an inch smaller than
the city lose, so no effective connection
was made Tor some time. Then the only
hope was to save the bOller-houSe Just COM
pleted at a cost of $4,000 and bath-house
that cost $1,000. The latter's cornice
baZcd up several times, but was saved.
The former escaped only because the bu Id
ing between it and the hotel was torn down.
The Montezuma was first opened for bus
mess April I, 1881, and was con.idered the
equal of any and the superior of most
places of puDlic entertainment to be found
at an. of the popular resorts in America,
both on account of the completeness of its
appoin ments and the elegance and taste of
is furnishings. Tie house could comfort
ably accommodate three hundred guests.
no bni ns
style, three stories high, gable rooted.
There were go rooms, all furnished in a
costly and elegant style. There were la |
dies and gentlemen's reception rooms and !
general parlorS on all the floors, but the !
principal ladies' parlor was on the second |
floor. This was furnished on scale of orr |
entail magnificence. 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 |
billiard-rooms and bowling alleys, all fur
nished in native mountain pine. The ladies' /
billiard parlor was in tue cupola of the /
building. All around the front and sides |
of the building extended wide balconies.
Tue 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 /
HosI iLupoSSloio IoI Hio W gum any Hcou
way in the building. The servants were |
completely drilled in the use OF the appar-
atus, but all this seems to have been OF nc !
avail when the real test came. J. NJ. Barr, /
manager, and his wife, recently married, J
lost all their personal affects. He deserves |
great credit for his presence OF mind and ,
courage.
The loss is estimated at 81 900; insur.
ance, a little over 100000. The guests, ii .
is estimated. lose Snow. E Everything pos
sibie is being done to make them comtorta-
bic.
The hotel was the property OF the Atchi
son, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Compa-
ny, and it seems to be considetel Gs mat
ter of course that it will be rebuilt.