Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-11-11
4 DIE IN FIRE
THAT DESTROYS
SOCORRO BARN
AND WAREHOUSE
Follows Explosion
While Victims Are At
tempting to Get Truck
Out of Hay-FiIIed Room
TOURIST, WHO TRIES
TO RESCUE, OVERCOME
Dead Are julius Canpre-
don, Henry Chambon
Jose Cre8pin and CorneIiO
CreSpini Loss Is Heavy

Socorro, \. NJ, Nov. 10.-Four
are dead aud a fifth may have lost
his life in a fire today that de-
stroyed the large storage barn Of
the Chambon estate near the heart
Of the city shortly after noon to-
day.
The dead are:
JULIUS CAMPREDON, manager
Of the estate and former county
commissioner and county treas
urer.
HENRY CHAMBON, nephew of
Campredon.
JOSE CREsPIN, an employee OF
the estate.
CORNELIO CREsPIN, son of
Jose Crespin.
The fire was discovered during
the noon hour, while the large
barn, in which was stored 500 tons
OF hay was entirely deserted. Ju-
lius Campredon rushed into the
barn accompanied by the Crespins,
and made an effort to drive out
a large truck which was heavily
loaded with baled hay. When the
men entered, the flames were con-
fined to one corner of the barn,
but apparently an explosion oc-
Cured, as the whole structure
burst into flames.
Julius Campredon appeared near
the door of the barn, his clothing
in flames, and fell to the floor. A
tourist, whose name has not been
learned, dashed into the barn and
tied rope around Campredon and
dragged him out. He was dead
when he reached the outside. His
clothing was burned from his body,
which was badly charred.
Nothing more was seen OF the
Crespins. 1t is believed that young
Chambon went to his uncle's res
cue, and was caught in the flames.
some persons thought they saw
him crawl through a window, and
others say they saw him rush in
through the front door. The tour
ist, who was overcome with smoke,
stated when he was able to talk,
that he was within a few feet OF
young Chambon when he was
driven out by the flames.
A fifth man, whose identity has
not been established, is believed to
have been caught in the flames.
Several theories are advanced as
to the cause of the fire. One is
spontaneous combustion in the new
hay. Another is that a camp fire
in the rear of the barn may have
burned through the wall. Ashes
and hole in wall were discoV'
cred.
The explosion may have been
caused by dynamite stored in the
barn and belonging to the state
highway department, though high
way officials say o check of then
materials shows that nothing oil
the kind was in the structure. An
other theory is that the gasoline III
the truck was exploded by tht
heat, Still another theory is that
the fumes from the gasoline mao
filled the structure and the sparks
ignited them.
A large barn belonging to the
Wtnkler rooming house was de-
stroyed, together with an automo'
bile and other property.
The loss has not been estimated
but will run into many thousands
Besides the hay, several wagons
beIonging to the highway depart
n1ent were burned. The fire was
still burning last night, but was un'
der control, The buildings were
located about block from the
large Chambon mercantile store.
Jose Crespin. one of the mer
who lost his life, only few min
utes before the fire. had just drawn
500 from the bank with which ne
intended to send his wife. who is
i'll to the hospital in Socorro. lie
went directly from the bank to the
barn and shortly afterwards was
dead.
Henry Chambon was % years OF
age. Both he and his uncle were
unmarried.