The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-01-25
A COSTLY BLAZE.

COSTLY BLAZE.
Burning Of the MOnteZunia Hotel Mt La
Vegas Hot Springs, New MexicO-S xty.
two Guests in the Hous-, But all Escape
with the Loss of their Enects-Inefective
Fire Service.
LAS VEGAS, N. NJ, Jan. II.
The Montezuma Hotel, situated at the
springs, six miles from tue 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 endeavor.
ing to save their property at the risk oil
their lives.
The fire Was discovered about noon by o
servant who was cleaning up one of the re.
cepiion-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 rum .nS back into the room,
tore the radia or 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 tae 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 1t was, the Railways and rooms
quickly filed with O 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 endeavored 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 the burning build
Ing.
The hotel was not half full, there being
only slXty-Lwo guests, but t.ere was full
complement of servants and employees.
Some OF the SUBSEQUENTLY one. ourtn-
succeeded in saving portion of their pos
sessions but the employees lost everything.
OF course while all tnis was going on ei-
forts were being made to stop the progress
the flames. The fire was so rapid that
the means of fishting fir provided in the
hotel could not be got to work. The fire de.
partment of the Springs was unable to do
anything 10 save the hotel. A special train
lett Las Vegas in ten minutes a. ter the
alarm was given with the fire department..
The six miles were covered in nine minutes,
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 boiler-houSe just com.
pletsd at a cost Of 100000 and bath-house
that cost 5000. The latter's cornice
biazcd 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 Tor bus
mess April Z, 1881, and was considered the
equal of any and the superior of most
places of public entertainment to be found
ut am OF the popular resorts in America,
both on account of the completeness of its
appoin ments and the elegance and taste of
us furnishings. Tie house could comfort
ably accommodate three hundred guests.
The building was of franc. Queen Anne
style, three stories high, gable rooted.
There were 30 rooms, all furnished in
costly and elegant style. There were la.
dies and gentlemen's reception rooms and
general parlors on all the fiors, but the
principal ladies' parlor was on the second
floor. This was furnished on a scale of ORR
entail magnificence. Toe 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, ali fur
III udtlVc pine. iuC
billiard parlor was in the cupola OF the
building. All around the front and sides
of the building extended wide balconies.
Tue fire service was supposed to he 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. 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. Al. Barr,
manager, and his wife, recently married,
lost all their personal affects. He deserves
great credit for his presence of mind and
courage.
The loss il estimated at So 200; insur.
ance, little over 100000. The guests, it
is estimated. lose $30,0W. Everything pos
sible is being done to make them comforta-
BILE.
The hotel was the property of the Atchi.
son, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Compa.
ny, and it seems to be considered as a mat
ter of course that it will be rebuilt.