Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1902-12-27

| The handsome and thoroughly
equipped Santa Fe hospital stands q
mass OF ruins today, the result Of last
nights conf,agration.
About 10: 80 last night the city was
lit up by the entire roof OF the spac-
icus building In flames. Just as the
first blast Of the shop whistle sound.
ej the alarm. Depot Master Barton.
who was standing near box SO. on the
depot platform saw the flames leap
Ing into the air and Immediately sent
in an alarm from that box. The hos.
pital force were all within and the fire
originating In the roof they knew
nothing about It until they heard the
mour1ful whistles OF the engines In
the wards. The untimely and alarm.
ing crying Of the engines soon an Ak.
ered the sleeping denizens.
When the fire department reached
the scene the old part OF the hospital
was In flames and the fire was spread.
ing rapidly.
| After the hose were connected and
everything was In readiness to fight
the spreading fire. It was found that
the water pressure was very weak.
but later when the Are was beyond
control there was plenty OF water.
DIR. Cutter and the hospital staff
were assisted by plenty Of volunteers
In rescuing the patients. six OF whom
were bed ridden. There were about
thirty-hve patients In the institution.
all Of whom escaped. and were taken
across the street into the adobes.
where they remained during the night.
II is fortunate the fire did not visit
the institution last week. when there
were many patients seriously III.
| The fire originating in the roof not
only allowed all the inmates to be
rescued. but all the beds and furnit.
ure In the new part was saved.
The Are department worked hero.
ically until after | o'clock this morn.
ing. There were many volunteers
who did not stop to think OF their own
safety. but worked hard in the suifo.
ating halls and balconies. When II
was seen that the old part was doom
ed. all devoted their attention to saw.
ing the new addition. which Is stand.
ine this morning. but ruined by the
smoke and water The old part was
destroyed. one chimney and the back
wall are standing. but are ready to
topple over.
II was stated this morning that
none of the patients were affected or
died from the exposure.
o. w. Strong & Sons ambulance
are removing them to the Sisters
sanitarium. where they will receive
careful attention.
| While the confagration was at its
height 1t was a scene OF beauty to be.
hold. The streets were lined with
people. who had been aroused by the
shrill whistle sounding the alarm.
While the most of the furniture and
belongings Of the staff were saved,
yet some lost most everything they
had. A chiffonier belonging to one OF
the nurses. was thrown out OF win.
| dow from the upper story. The cloth
irg, jewesry and valuables were scat.
tered over the ground. A watch ard
several rings we're found this morning
In the rubbish.
T. J. Shinick was one of the last TO
leave the building Of the rescuing
party. As he was passing out with a
cot, the balcony of the old part fell,
| covering the cot with hot embers.
The loss will probably reach about
$4,000. covered by Santa Fe insur.
ance.
A good hospital Is essentially neceso
sary at this point. and there Is no
doubt but that the hospital will be ro-
built. a much more handsome struc-
ture taking the place of the destroyed
institution.
The first question asked by the
spectators when they APPEARED on the
scene was. WAS there any lives lost. "
Considerable fear was expressed
lest the patients suffer from the sud.
den exposure. but thus far there are
no reports Of any deaths or any of
the patierts being much worse from
their thrilling experience.