Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-08-19
THE GREAT FIRE.
The Burning Of the San Felipe
Hotel,
More Facts About the Deplorable
Conflagration.
The Insurance on Building and Furniture
only $40, 900.
SEVERAL THEORIES ABOUT ORIGIN.

The empty walls and the chsrred tim
bers OF the once dne San Felipe hotel,
which now disgrace the building site on
the corner OF Gold avenue and Fifth
street, tells how devastating we're the
flames in the deplorable fire late yester.
day afternoon.
The monument-in the shape OF one OF
the finest hotel buildings In the south.
west-which stood there since 1884 IL to-
day a mass OF ruins. showing conclu-
sively that the fiery flames accomplished
its purpose. and laid 10 waste an outlay
in money OF over 100000.
THE CITIZEN held its forms back yes
terday afternoon. In order to herald the
unpleasant news OF the fire to its readers.
and to-day there is very little to be added.
except to give some theories M TO the
origin OF the fire; the correct amount Of
insurance carried. and short interview
with the unfortunate proprietor, Frank
X. sturges.
THE THEORIES.
Yesterday afternoon THE CITIZEN
stated that is was reported that the Gre
originated somewhere on the roof where
the plumbers force we're at work"
This conclusion. on investigation TO-
day, is n mistake. whitney Company had
the contract for the plumbing. and to-
day the foreman OF that department, Eu
gene Murray, WAS seen.
81 have not the slightest idea how the
FIRE occurred" said Mr.. Murray. but |
wish TO emphasize the fact that no men,
Der OF the plumbers force Is responsible.
Sixteen men. under me, were at work at
the hotel yesterday of the men were
at work in the kitchen. toilet and wash
rooms on the frat floor In the southwest
section Of the building. and the other ten
were under the building. No plumb
ing OF any kind has been done on the
second or third floors Of the building
for week. and a. the 6re origi.
mated. from all accounts, in the east side
Of the building and between the roof and
the ceiling Of the third noor-the garret
proper-no plumber in the employ Of the
whitney Company can be held account.
able for the deplOrable fire."
Then, have you q theory" asked the
reporter.
"Not specially" remarked Mr.. Murray.
THE fire may have occurred from dust
combustion, as | have had experiences
heretofore where dust created flame.
There seems to be- some talk that the fire
occurred from live electric wires. This
IL mistake. for there was no current on,
and from what I learn no one was
stringing wires, or making electric con.
nection in the vicinity when the fire was
6rst noticed yesterday afternoon"
II was then suggested that some work
men. with candle or some kind OF
light, and who was at work in the garret,
might have caused the connagration, but
Mr.. Murray would not express an opinion
on the theory advanced.
Mr. Murray stated that he was among
the first to discover the smoke, Just be-
fore the alarm was sent In, and II was
then issuing from the cornice on the
east side OF the building. about midway,
which was conclusive proof to him that
the hre originated somewhere In the
garret and on the east side.
THE BUILDING.
The San Felipe hotel building was
built In 1884 by the Albuquerque Hotel
COMPANY. at the cost. including ayarY-