Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-05-03
AN EARLY MORNING BLAZE
The Grocery Establishment of Mr.. S.
s. Beatty Destroyed by Fire at =
O'clock This Morning.
The FIRE WAS OF INCENDIARY ORIGIN
by Hose of insufficient Length
Loss Estimated Between sc, 900
and 81, 900, With An Insur-
ance of $4,000.


by fire at O'Clock this m orning. Out of a
stock valued at between $4,000 and $4,000,
all that remains is few tons of baled
hay which was stored in a stable adjoin-
ing the flour store house. The insurance
amounts to $4,000 $1,000 on the stock
and $1,000 on the buildings. There can
be no doubt as to the incendiary origin of
the fire. Whether the m otive was robbery
or revenge Is not clear at this time. The
first attempt to burn the store was made
about 2 O'Clock on last Friday morning.
At this time the blaze was discovered in
time to save the property. Mr.. Beatty,
who occupies sleeping room over the
store, was aroused by smoke, and hasten
ing below held the flames in check until
the fremen reached the scene and got to
work. Prompt action on the part of the
fremen, who caught the blaze in its in
cipiency, saved the store on the occasion
referred to above.
This morning, however, it was different
Everything was against those who re-
sponded to the alarm. In the first place
eral different points about the building by
tiendish hands) were pretty we'll under
way before help arrived. Then there was
an insufficient supply of hose. Later
came the Indian school fire company, but
the hose carried by this organization
would not reach the flames by many
yards.
Mr.. Beaty's first warning of the fire was
between l and 2 O'Clock. He does not
know the exact time. With his son, who
is employed about the store, he occupies
living rooms in the upper story of the es
Establishment, and at the time mentioned he
was aroused from his slumber by the boy
who called out to him that the building
was full of smoke. Hastily dressing him.
self he started togo below but was driven
back by the smoke which was so dense as
to threaten suffocation. He then threw
open the windows and cried the alarm al
the top of his voice. The fire must have
been seen by others about this time fol
while at the windows he heard pisto
shots near by.
He then made second attempt to gel
below, thinking to escape by one of thu
street doors. Ia this attempt he was
only partially successful. He reached
the bakery store room, and here discov
cred the origin of at least one of the fires
(there were several set). In one corner
Of this store room had been collected G
pile of empty vinegar barrels and on the
top of them he saw a pile of kindline
wood half consumed and still burning
He tried the store room door, and to hif
great surprise found it had been looked
on the inside with a paddock, also the
work of the incendiary, the door loci
being the only one in use by those abou
the store. Ate O'Clock the night before, thu
clerk had passed out to the street by this
door and locked it after him with key
which he always carries, and which hi
still holds in his possession.
Returning to the upper story of thu
building, as his only means of escape, h'
was here joined by his boy, and together
they made safe descent to the street
The fremen arrived few minutes later
and did all in their power to check thu
flames, which by this time covered the
whole inside Of the building. As before
stated, short hose precluded the posi-
| bility of effective work, and the place
was so IN Quilted.
Next to the store proper is flour store
house. This building contained ovel
10000 pounds of -four. most of it from
shipments of last week. From this store
house the flames extended to the stable
and hay house, which with its contents
was partially saved.
During the fire, Jose Coriz was caught
in the act of making way with -four, was
followed to his home in an adjacent alley
where dozen or more sacks were found
together with a considerable quantity Of
coffee. He was arrested and taken to jail
There were other thefts, of which evil
dence is lacking sufficient to warrant ar
rests, but which will be attended to later
With the exception of a little hay as
above stated, Mr.. Beatty says that moth.
ing at all was saved from the flames.
Frank Downey, until few days since
clerk in the employ of Mr.. Beatty lost
his little all in the fire. 1t consisted of a
trunk full of clothing and $40 in cash, the
latter being his savings for an intended
trip to Los Angeles where he had secured
a situation in grocery store. He settled
with Mr.. Beatty few days since and in
tended to leave for California tomorrow
Up to last night he has occupied room
over the store. By chance he spent last
night at Mr.. Alderson's, which he considers
providential, in view of the fact that ne
is sound sleeper, and would have in all
pr disability been suffocated. Downey
is printer by trade and has been given
temporary situation by the New Mex
loan Printing company.
A. j. Griffin of the Water company.says
that the water supply was entirely AIDE.