El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-07-12
100000 loss
IN DEMING FIRE
Half Block in Ruins; En-
tire Business Section for
Time Threatened.

Time threatened.
Deming, n NJ. July I2-One half
Of a city block IN the heart OF Dem
ing is today a mass Of smoulderiug
ruins, menacing walls towering above
twisted steel girders and great heaps
OF bricks and other debris, an after
lmath OF one OF the most disastrous
fires that has ever occurred in this
city.
1t started about 1870 o'clock Thurs
day afternoon in the old Lester ga
rage. operated by Roy Baker. in the
! block bounded by Pine and Cedar
streets. and Gold and Copper ave
nues. Before the fire could be brought
under control. owing TO the high west
I wind. and the lntlammable material
upon which it fed. il is estimated
I 800. 900 damage had been done with
3 but partial insurance.
Soldiers Save City.
Z When the Deming fire department
I found IL was unable TO cope with the
situation, assistance was asked OF the
Camp Cody department. Had It not
4 been for the latter. assisted by thous-
/ ands Of soldiers. and practically the
I entire population OF the city, Il is
thought the entire business section
{ Of the city would have been wiped
out Of existence.
When it was seen that that half Of
[ the block bounded by Pine street
and Gold and Copper avenues. was
doomed, the efforts were directed to
Keeping the flames from eating fur
Their towards Cedar street. and Jump
ing across the two avenues.
Control 1t in Two Hours
AT the height Of the fire the wind
changed, blowing back across the
OF the fire fighters. and with cheers
they redoubled their efforts TO keep
the flames within the confines Of the
rapidly being consumed half block
W ithin two hours after the fire
started its encroachments had been
checked, and was declared under con-
troll
A lighted cigaret caused the fire. A
negro In the employ OF Mr.. Baker
carelessly threw his butt" on the ga
rage Loor. It came in contact with
bunch OF grease and oil soaked
waste In an instant Il was fiji flames.
other lnflamma Bile materials on the
floor proved food for the flames.
which with lightning like rapidity
swept through the building.
Theater Loss. 100000.
As the flames burst out Of the "a
rage, the wind blew them against the
elevated portion OF the Cody theater
TO the east. This elevated portion
was covered with prepared roofing. /
The flames finally consumed IL. and
ate into the theater. Nothing inside
Of the theater could be saved.
Sol Carragien. who had lease on
the building, said his loss Is about
$4,000, with about $1,000 insurance. /
M Baker said his loss viii be at
least $4,000. He said there were about
30 cars in his building. the value OF
which he could not give. 1Ir. Baker /
IN trying TO save cars was burned
on his hands and about his neck and
head His foreman Walter I. Dusire,
was also burned, but not dangerously. /
de was taken TO a hospital
Autos Are Burned.
sam Watkins, dealer in auto acces- }
series and agent for Buick and Dodge
cars. doing business in the same /
building with AR Baker. said that he I
was about one third covered by in
at $4,000. he lost Il new Bucks and I
Dodge cars
The occupants with small bust I
nesses along the Pine street side OF 4
the Cody theater building. lost moth I
ing except by water and in the con- /
tents being scattered around These /
were Mrs. L. NJ CadT, lunch room Z
New York Hat works; the Cody con- I
rectionerys George Necles. proprietor. /
VINO said his loss would be about !
$500, the Han Auto Supply company,
r karlegays proprietor; ans the 4
FL Faso Morning Times local agency.
on the Gold avenue side front OF the /
theater, the Cody barber shop. A. n 1
u
VIII Rebuild Theater.
The Cody theater cost SIS 900. Tt /
was owned by the Cody Amuse- /
ment company, composed OF ". A /
Heather, J. II Bell = c. Cooper and /
Sol Carragieu. principal owners 1t 4
is understood that the insurance was ]
about $4,000. Mr.. Carragien said i
the rheater viii be rebuilt at once.
The two frame buildings 70 the /
north Of the thelter. and which were I
occupied until recently by Michael /
son & Co., belonged TO the CONSOLE ]
dated Amusement company. Of which j
Deming National bank officials and I
A W Pollard are owners. These !
buildings were cheap affairs
Carr Building Quilted.
me carr estate building was OF 4
brick. but the fire Quilted It. II was 1
occupied by Mrs 4 o. Dulauny, who 1
ran a boarding house. Most OF her
furnishings were saved. The city
building occupied by the city library. /
on the corner OF Pine street and Cop
per avenue, was very slightly dam
aged The books were all saved.
The Walter "A Russell house, On 4
the north OF the Carr house cost re-
Gently about $500. and IT, with con- ]
tents, most OF which were saved, had 4
about $500 insurance. 81 was said
Thank Soldiers for Hard Work.
The city council and chamber Of
commerce passed resolutions today
thanking and prGising the soldiers,
four companies Of them. for saving
the day at the fire. The companies
prevented the fire from spreading 10
the Deming Lumber Co. and getting
across the streets.
Aulutant Major was on the ground /
personally as quick as ne could get
there, as was also Col y. P. Hyatt,
commander Of the military police.
H. g. Bush, for the Deming Lumber
Co, has wired thanks 10 Mai. H. 81.
Nelly for the soldiers work and viii
give 500 20 the camp athletic fund.
NEW YORKER IS