Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-06-20

ruins.
n DISCOVERY.
A few minutes after 9 o'clock, Felipe
Gutierrez, employed as a cook by Col. J.
q. Albright. happened TO glance out OF a
side window, WHIT n he discovered a small
column OF smoke issuing from the build
ing across the alley, at about where the
stage ~ the opera house was located. lie
Immediately n1'ined @. W. Anderson, n
rOOmer In the Louse, and Mr.. Anderson
ran H. give the alarm BY sounding the
city fire bell.
THB ALARM.
A Mexican youth, who heard Mr.. An
dersOn's shouts, reached the bell before
he did and gave the alarm. Fire Mar
shall Ruppe, who was at his store, was
appraised OF the FIRE by this time. and he
ran TO Railroad avenue and Second street
and sent In IN alarm from a regular fire
alarm box. There WIS little or no diff
Guilty In locating the fire, and the depart
ment was soon upon the scene. Although
no blaze was yet visible, smoke was pour
ing out from under the all around
the rear OF the building, and this inter
fered with the Immediate locating OF the
seat OF the FIRE.
SCENERY ABLAZE.
As soon a. the doors leading 10 the
auditorium were broken open. however.
IL was discovered that the flies and
scenery on the stage and the stage itself
we're ablHze and Notwithstanding many
conjectures 10 the contrary this h doubt
less where the fire Originated-in one
OF the lady's dressing rooms or In the
0rchestra's retiring room underneath the
ulnna Nuhara maj afaNaA aha a.NW. .I.aw.
used In the theater.
Az quickly as the hose could be raised
mp the rear OF the building, a stream was
thrown In on the blaze. but on the in
iiamable scenery and light wooden furni-
ture. which was by this time burning
iiercely, the water had little effect.
now playing on the building and the
PRESSURE BEGAN TO FAIL,
when II was seen that the large building
was doomed 10 destruction.
There was still time TO save several
thousand dollars worth OF goods In Ilfeld
Bros store costly silks, dainty notions
and exquisite dress goods which after
wards furnished delectable food for the
flames: but no one seemed 10 propose this
or IL IL was proposed, IL failed OF execu-
ton until II became absolutely danger
GUS 10 enter the store.
Then Il was that q hundred or 30 bolts
OF fine silk were removed and this was
all that was taken out.
LAW BOOKS, ETC, REMOVED.
A suggestion that an effort be made to
save the contents Of the offices on the
second floor, offered by one OF the ten
ants, NET with a ready response, and In a
brief few minutes there came down q
small cyclone OF law books, legal papers,
etc, which we're caught in ou~tstretched
hands In the street and carried 10 a
wagon and carted away In confusion.
Collier Il Marion, J. N. Moore and II.
V. Chavez will spend some time sorting
out the goods that belong to each
Following these came the removal OF
Office furniture, and In saving this some
OF the fire laddies were most active. Some
others, who for the nOnce became enthu
siastic helpers In the cause, before they
could be restrained, about this time be.
gan TO throw out office desks, light fur
niture and brio a brac. which on strik-
ing the sidewalk became forever more
neither useful nor ornamental.
THE FLAMES BROKE OUT.
At 1890 o'clock, the Gre had sprung 10
the front OF the building at the southeast
corner, the whole second floor aud the
tower at this point reaching up, fifteen OF
twenty feet being enyelOped In flames.
This presented a spectacle that might
have been enjoyed were II not known
that somebody's property was providing
the brilliant and costly display. The in
terror OF the large pile was now a seeth-
ing mass OF fire, and shortly after IL
o'clock the floor OF the opera house
weighted by the burning roof which fell
In, Itself cayed and came down 10 the
first floor with a tremendous crash.
l r KEPT FROM SPREADING.
Some time previous to this, II was seen
that further attempts 10 a v the build
ing were futile and every effort was bent
In the direction OF keeping the fire from
spreading. The dead calm prevailing
favored this, and the large addition at
the west end of the block proper, and
other stores In the vicinity, stand to-day
az monuments attesting the fact that our
volunteer fire department did all that
men could do, poorly equipped az they
are, 10 a v other peoples property and
save this young city from an irreparable
injury.
But the members OF this organization
are not alone In an endeaYor 10 do their
duty, and all credit TO those citizens
who hesitate not TO attach themselves
TO a hose nozzle or by other means aid
In fighting fires.
THR GUARDS RESPONDED.
Yesterday, the Albuquerque Guards
turned out and did good work In keeping
the crowd back Of the danger line and
generally In preserving order, while
Chief OF Police FOrnOff and his lieuten-
ants did yeoman service with the liremen.
THE BURNED BUILDING.
The Grant building was a two story
structure and covered a space
west end previously mentioned having
been added In 1885.
Ilfeld Bros, who undoubtedly had the
largest store In the territory occupied
the entire lower door, having four general
salesrooms and numerous sub or minor
departments.
II GRANT INSURANCE.
The Grant building, including the l..
A. Grant addition on the west, was esti.
mated 70 be worth In the neighbOrhOOd
OF $4,000, and the insurance on the
building, furnished for publication by L..
A. McRae, manager OF Mr.. Grant, is as
follows:
With II. II. Kent-In Manchester COM
pany, 1880; in Phoenix, 81, 100; in Lon
don and Lancashire, $3.50. Total, t5,.
$50.
With Calvin Whiting-In Continental
company, $l,Sl7; Underwriters' Policy,
1888, Total, S2,650.
With b. A. Sleyster-In National Fire
company, $500; Atlas Assurance, 81, 800.
Total. 5000.
With j. M. MOOre-In Royal Exchange
Assurance company. 1900.
With A. Il Walker-In Northern As
surance company, $1,000.
With Metcalf Il strauss-In the Fire.
mans Fund company, $1,000.
With Henry LOckhart-In Insurance
Company OF North America, $4,000.
With Otto DieCkmann-ln Palatine