Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1905-04-29
ALBRIGHT HOUSE
sURNEp TO GROUND

Residents OF the city were startled
from their slumbers az about 1880
O'Clock last night by a terrific explos.
ion In the down town district followed
by the cry Of IRE and the firing OF a
number OF shots, Investigation re-
vealed that the Albright building on
North Third street. between Railroad
and Copper avenues, was on ere.
Officer Frank Shoemaker, who was
standing on the corner OF laird street
and Copper avenue az tho time OF the
explosion. was the first ON the scene.
lie turned In the alarm and then fred
a number OF shOts 20 arouse tho resi-.
dents Of the block. By this time the
IRE company had arrived and soon
had three lines OF hose strung aud
three streams of water playing on the
ate.
Is All took place 70 suddenly and the
fiames gained such rapid headway.
that the inmates OF the secoud story.
which was used as "a rooming house,
had narrow escapes from being burned
or suffocatcd. j. j. Meliey. a pipe ~.
ter. who occupied room Immediately
over the liquor establishment which
occupied the ioor below. was awak.
oned by the explosion which blew him
TO the ceiling.
Melley says that the room then be-.
came Immediately filled with smoke
and gases and the floor began to give
away. He CROPPED his way 10 a win.
dow opening on the street and jumped
10 the ground below. He suffered a
sprained ankle and other minor
bruises. He was picked up by Col.
ID X. u. Sellers and removed TO tho
Rico rooming house where his injuries
were attended.
Others who had 10 Zee only In their
night clothes. leaving behind every
thing they possessed we're Mrs. Simp-
son, prOprietross OF the ro0mlng house.
She awoke TO find the room filled with
smoke and escaped over the back roof.
being assisted 10 the ground boloy BY
the aid OF ladder.
George w. HcnnOn. a photographer,
aud Fred Snyder, a mRchinist. were
forced 20 make a rope OF tho bed
clothes and escaped only In their night
clothes.
a SIN wind famed the namos and
the bremen worked under numerous
difficulties, as a number OF live wires
were hanging loose and danger from
falling walls was threatened. Within
an hour after the fret started the
walls and roof OF the building fell In
and then all danger OF the flames
spreading was over
An Investigation today OF the cause
Of the IRE leaves no doubt but that Il
was inoendlary origin aud the matter
viii be thoroughly looked into by the
adJusters OF tho various insurance
companies that are losers by reason OF
the destruction OF the building, the
loss being tote
The lover floors we're occupied by
the southwestern Liquor a Cigar com.
pany, w Like. manager. which Is In
sured la the Royal Fire Insur.
ence company for $4,000, =. y.
McCanua. OF this city, being the
agent; Mrs. j. q. Albright's photo
graph gallery, which was also fully
Insured.
The up stairs was used as rooming
house, the fixtures being the property
OF Mrs. Albright who also owned the
building Her loss on the building and
fixtures Is covered By between $4,000
and $1,000 insurance so that the loss
viii not be heavy Mrs. Albright. who
"a now In Detroit with her daughter,
Miss Claude. who Is starring In one OF
the Savage Opera companies, Was ad-
Yised by wire today OF the destruction
OF the building.
This morning the ro0mers who SUI.
fored the loss Of all their belongings.
we're taken care OF by friends. Col
ID. X. y. Sellers was very generous
and besides looking after the injuries
OF Mr. Molley. one OF the sufferers,
today fitted ont the unfortunate man
with a suit OF clothes, shoes and
has