Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-05-15
10000 IN PROPERTY
DESTROYED By FLAMES
r,rs Broke Out In Clark Block Sat-
urday Might, And Swept Every
thinq to AlIsyway on Gold.
M WATER OR FIRE APPARATUS
e,rs Discovered In Early Stages, but
Fire Fighters Had no 0p.
portunity to Stop Blaze.

o'clock Saturday night. destroyed the
ho.k ot the Southwest corner Of
Gold avenue aud Pine street, causing
lass of about 300, 900 in buildings
and merchandise stocks which was
insured for approximately half of
TINT amount. The fire, which origi-
mated in the Heath Hat Shop jointly
oecupied with the Western Union
Telegraph Co. Office, spread rapidly
10 the adjoining buildings occupied,
an the ground floors by the Clark
Clothing Company, the Clark Grocery
Conpany. the Deming National Bank.
Kiunenr and Company drug store.
and on the upper floors by the Vic-
,oria Hotel. Masonic lodge rooms and
the Knights of Pythias lodge rooms
which is also used by practically all
the other secret orders of the city.
Nothing of great value was saved
from the Flames aud no lives were At
any time in danger.
MANY DIFFICULTIES
While the fire-hghters worked
desperately. they were handicapped
by lack Of modern equipment "f ANY
kind. aud the water from five lines
Of hosr had pressure barely capable
of raising the water to the window
sills IN the second floors. a hand
grenade would have exiinguished the
fire when discovered, but there was
none. aud the fire cxiinguishers "n
the hook and ladder truck were out
Of commits sion. The hand pump has
been out of order for months and
was not taken from the fire house.
The hose, too, was said to he leaking.
The pressure was further reduced by
the iakin. of 3-inch stream of wa
ter from the mains by the South
western railroad employees, who ship
the water To Hermanas in tank ears.
aud the running Of water in the lawn
sprinklinc systems over the city.
The siandpipe contained about fifty
feet of water when the alarm was
turned III, hut, since the pumps are
turned directly into the mains in ease
Of fire. this had little to do with the
lack of pressure. The water was
finally cut "il entirely by the burning
of the high tension power line which
served the waierworks pumps. This
line, CARRYING $4,000 volts. runs
directly down Gold avenue and no
other line supplies power to the
plant.
INADEQUATE INSURANCE
The value of the buildings destroy
ed amounted to about 100000 on
which only $4,000 of insurance was
carried. All the buildings except that
occupied by Kinnear and Company
drug store belonged to the Clark
estate. The Masons owned the
structure occupied by Kinnear's drug
store. The fixtures of the Deming
National Bank were valued at Sl.2OO
on which ~. 900 worth of insurance
was carried; furnishings of the Vie
t"rla Hotel valued at 81. 800. insured
for 900; Clark Cloihing Company
stock valued at $4,000, insured for
sl3,Wo, Clark Grocery Company
stock valued at $4,000. insured for
$4,000; Kinnear and Company drug
store stock valued at $4,000, insured
Tor $4,000; Heath Hat Shop stock
valued at $1,000, insured for $1,000
Masonic lodge furniture and other
equipment 1900. insured for 1000
WILL REBUILD
The Clark interests will rebuild
at once, large reinforced concrete
structure, which will be fireproof and
modern in every way. The size and
cost of this building has not yet beer
determined. hut will be just as soon
As the insurance matter is adjusted
The Masons probably will rebuild
somewhat larger structure to ac-
rommodate very rapidly increasing
membership. The order has oth"l
lots IN which n temple will sometime
be placed, but il is hardly probabl,
mat they will decide on this plan just
~ tins time. The fact that the prop
rfty destroyed was among the most
productive and valuable in the city
makes quick restoration imperative
TEMPORARY QUARTERS
The vault Of the Deming Nationa
Bank has not yet been opened. bu
u seems certain that everything vii
be found intact. The vault contain,