Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-07-08
LOSS REACHES ABOUT $4,000
slMPklNs BROTHERS AND TIE
BRIDGE BAR ARE THE
HEAVIEST LOSERS
MAY BE WORK OF FIRE BUG
THERE is SUSPICION THAT AN IN
cENDIARY STARTED ThE
BLAZE

Fire, the origin OF which points
strongly to incendiarism, early yes
terday morning gutted the buildings
on Bridge street occupied by simp-
kins brothers. confectioners, and the
Bridge bar. The damage done to
buildings and stocks is estimated at
$4,000. The fire started in stair
way west of the room occupied by the
Simpkins Brothers. 1t spread rapidly
into the Simpkins room and into the
room east of the stairway. where
dance was held Saturday night This
room has been vacant for some time
and was opened as a dance hall Just
previous to the Fourth Of July. The
rooms abve the Bridge Bar and the
Simpkins store were occupied by wine
rooms and a negro club. Whether
some of the denizens of the negro
club accidentally started the confla-
grafton by careless handling of a
cigarette or cigar or whether it got
its start ct the hands OF a fire bug Is
not nown.
The occupants of the upper floors
rushed out Of the building scantily
clad. carrying clothing under their
arms. They declared they knew no
thing Of the fire until they heard the
alarm sounded by the big bell in the
e. Romero Hose company's station.
Women, white and black and men of
the same shades poured down the
stairways in a stream. It was be-
draggIed looking lot, though the paint
still showed plainly on the faces of
some of the women. The fire had
routed out some of the city's most
undesirable characters
Valiant onlookers volunteered their
assistance in "rescuing' the liquors ip
the Bridge bar. It was not long until
the effect of the liquor got in its work.
as most Of the stuff Saved" was put
to instant use. The West side police.
however, soon put stop to the indis-
criminate drinking. Hugh Galloway,
of Galloway and Lowe, proprietors Of
the place, yesterday said that nearly
every bottle and box of cigars in the
place had been stolen during the fire.
He took a representative of The OPP
tic through the place yesterday and,
sure enough, there was not enough
booze in sight to inebriate a. mos
quito.
By hard and efficient work the fire
men of both cities succeeded in check
ing the fire before the buildings were
totally destroyed. The building oc- {
cupied by Simpkins Brothers was bad
Iy damaged in the front portion, al Il
though the rear portion, occupied by l
a bottling works and ice cream fac
tory, was not scorched and there was 9
little damage from water. The Bridge /
bar was unroofed and partially gut S
ted. The principal damage. however, /
was done on the second floor. The I
two buildings are by no means G
wrecks. although 1t will require a large $
to repair them. t
The firemen fought the flames from q
he roof of the Mills building on the $
west, from the alley in the rear and .
rom the front. When they arrived y
he fire fighters found only stream {
If black smoke, sluggishIy making its 2
way out of the front of the 0
simpkins place. There was some diff b
iculty in locating. the flames and by
he time they had broken into a suffi
,ient blaze to be detected they had
,ot almost beyond control The fire h
lug in the middle of the block be- 81
ween the river and the Plaza was d
ound not to be in working order and h
he firemen were obliged to lay line Ia
f hose from the Plaza to the scene fc
+ the conflagration. The Bridge bar ii