Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1892-05-14

Almost simultaneously fire broke out in
he attic at the base OF both domes on
inc capitol building, about s O'Clock last
night, and to-day the mum walls OF TINS
once handsome public structure are IN
ruins, a sad calamity both Tor the capital
city and New Mexico.
About s O'Clock passers-by on Don Gas
par avenue scented a peculiar odor IN the
air and suggested that something was on
fire. A few minutes later smoke was
seen issuing from the eastern base OF the
south dome and flicker of light was APP
parent. The cry was soon raised and
Young Brown, whose home is near, ran
to the FIRE station and
GAVE THE ALARM.
A score or more OF people were in the
building by the time the fire bell rang anc
hundreds were on hand a few minutes
later but, to the CONSERVATION OF all, i
was found that there was little or M
water ia the stand-pipes in the building
to which the coils OF two-inch hose arr
kept attached for just such emergencies
At this time the flame was confined tt
the interior of the dome and covered {
SPACE scarcely more than six feet il
diameter. Clear heads and many willin!
hands were there it was easy to reacl
the ladder leading to the attic, and ha(
there been water in the pipes the mr.
could have been qlenChed in its Incl
piency-but the water was lacking, an,
what little water flowed through the stand
pipes on the upper floor spurted from tn
hose
THROUGH 4 SLIT
several inches in length which had evi
IDENTIFY been made with knife. Mel
carried this hose to the entrance OF tn
dome and frantically tugged away at tn
hydrant to turn on the water, but oil t
no avail. In ten minutes the sout
dome was enveloped in flames, and
strange to say, about this time also fir
burst forth from the north dome, nearl
200 feet dlstant-unmstakab indicatin
that the cowardiy inCendiary respor
sible for this ruin had done his work we
bv firing the building in two places.
The city fire department responded t
the alarm in prom pit order, but the fire
men were completely paralyzed by tn
discovery, afte. connecting with the b.
drant, that the water would not flo
through the hose. The nozzle was ca
ried to the upper floor by Fire Chit
| GRAY and held within fifteen feet OF Ii
blaze, but to no purpose, the water barel
falling two feet from the nozzle.
THE BUILDING DOOMED.
Now it became evident that all effor
to save the beautiful structure were hop
less, the flames having broken throug
into the third floor and eveloped the e.
tire upper portion Of the structure. The
everybody turned in to save the effect
and thousands OF willing hands aide
earnestly though sorrowfully. The SPANS
and Mexican archives and nearly all Il
books in the territorial library were savet
all the books and records belonging
the office of the territorial auditor al
treasurer, and most OF the more lmporta
effects in the secretary's and superinte
: dent of public Instructions department
were rescued. as was also large part
. the furniture, including most OF t
, equipment in the governors private ofllt
the supreme court and senatorial char
Der. The furniture in the hall OF repr
sentatives and the adjacent parIors W
destroyed.
As fast as the effects were remove
thanks to Col. Pearson and the officers
Fort Marcy, army wagons we're on ha
to transfer them TO places of safety.
. SUBLIME SIGHT.
At least 5000 people witnessed t
confagration, and many were the
pressions of sadness as the cruel Ham
leaped about the noble columns, lick
. through the stained glass windows a
$ circled about the richly carved cornlc'
presenting to view a sublime picture
terrific grandeur. m
] Governor Prince, Secretary Thom
y Treasurer Pollen, Auditor Perez, nc
b Amado Chaves and other officials a
4 their clerks were early on the scene a
aided in every way possible in rescul
the more valuable effects and state pape
The effects were placed IN charge OF
e guard of ten men detailed by the CO.
o handing officer at Fort Marcy and "
cared for until removed to places OF sale
DETAILS OF THE CALAMITY.
While the stories Of those persons &C
nected with the control of the build