April 15, 1883
The City Saved by the Exertions of the Firemen and The Much Abused Stovepipe Water Works
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There is no fire alarm bell in El Paso, and so it happened that the second edition of the TIMES issued at 4:30 a.m. yesterday was the first intimation that most of our citizens had of the destructive fire which left six of our business houses in ruins, and were it not for the much decried stovepipe water works, and the thorough work done by our fire department the entire business portion of the city would have been in ashes. As it is, the loss is heavy enough. The Senate saloon, Williamson’s drug store, Kern & Co.’s jewelry store, Disman Co.’s clothing house, Kaplans extensive bazaar and Dun’s restaurant are but smoldering ruins. It is almost impossible to say how the fire occurred, but it is very evident that it started either in the rear of Kern’s store or of Williamson’s drug store which joined Kerns on the north. In the rear of nearly every business house in the city there is a pile of tinder consisting of empty boxes and barrels, and in most of them the straw and light material still remains. With this condition of things it is to be wondered at that the city has not long since suffered from even a more disastrous conflagration. Only a few weeks ago a fire started in the rear of the State National Bank building from the same cause, but happily it was at an early hour in the evening or the result would have been most fatal.
A thorough inspection of every building in the city should be ordered at once by the proper authorities and a fire marshal vested with sufficient power to compel attention to his instructions should be appointed whose duty it should be to see that these fire traps are at once put out of the way.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
Chas. L. Pierce, the efficient chief engineer, and Ben. F. Levy the first assistant deserve more than a passing notice for their services. Mr. Pierce speaks in the highest terms of the men comprising the companies in carrying out his commands and it is admitted by all who viewed the ruins yesterday morning and saw the scorched buildings upon the opposite side of the street and the north wall of the Davis block threat a fight had been made, and a victory won, which would reflect credit on many an older fire department.
C.L. PIERCE’S STATEMENT
Mr. Pierce makes the following statements as the events of the fire. He says that he retired after midnight and was awakened at 2:30 a.m. by a pistol shot followed by cries of “murder” and “fire.” On reaching the scene he found men carrying out Kern’s goods. Pushing his way to the rear of the building he discovered that the fire started either in the immediate rear of that building or of Williamson’s store. No. 1 hose was already out, but there was some difficulty in getting it to work. He at once ordered No. 2 house out, and with the assistance of W.A. Irvin it was run out the house, but by this time No. 1 had gotten to work. The fire then reached the shell roofs and the fierce heat which scorched the newspapers in Irvins windows across the street drove the firemen out of El Paso street, but only for an instant. A call was then made for assistance, and the firemen with the help of citizens dragged the hose towards Overland street with the loss of a single length. The wind changed several times and blowing fiercely all the while the Davis block was in great danger, but was saved by taking a line of hose up the rear stairway of Kierski’s building and playing a stream of water directly down into the hear to f the fire.
FIRE NOTES
It is difficult to estimate the total loss at a fire, when the stocks are so varied as in this case, but if the figures are put at $35,000 it is believed that that amount will fully cover the damage.
Irvins building escaped with broken windows and a bad scorching.
The north adobe wall of the Davis block is not made of materials that will stand much drenching, although it does not seem to have been serious injured.
Ben Scuster will have to put in some new windowpanes.
The loss of stocks by water and removal is of course considerable.
Kern’s jewelry cases were carried out by a hundred ready hands and the loss by theft is not thought to amount to much. A small boy with a score of gold watches and chains around his neck was one of the incidents.
City Clerk Kahn distinguished himself and was covered with mud and glory as late as eleven o’clock yesterday morning.
The ladies in the upper rooms of the Davis block were badly frightened, but no one lost their presence of mind.
Chief Pierce says that he wants a steam fire engine and an alarm bell.
The Acme saloon got off with broken windows.
Coffin looked admiringly at the overland Corrall building, during the progress of the fire, and remarked “She lays low, and sits like a duck close to the ground, but she’s a daisy in a fire.”
George Speck lost his wardrobe and $60 in money.
An entire family of Mexican children were tucked away in bed at Captain White’s house during the progress of the fire, all too badly scared to know what was the matter.
The stovepipe water works stock has “riz.”
Albert E. Mackley, of No. 1 Hook and ladder Co., got a severe fall from the roof of the Acme saloon. He was struck by a stream from the hose which carried him off his feet. He fell onto the veranda and thence to the ground hurting himself painfully but not seriously.
Lightbody & James sustained slight damage, which is fully covered by insurance.
Geo. A. Speck claims to have lost $4,000 over and above this insurance.
P.C. Dunn had no insurance on his restaurant stock, and gets off with a loss of about $250.
The prevailing impression is that the fire was the work of an incendiary, and it is said that Louis Strassburger, who is in Geo. A. Speck’s employ, saw several men in the yard about half an hour before the flames burst out. They acted so suspiciously that he called Deputy Marshall Harris’ attention to them. The latter made an investigation, but the men seem to have left before his arrival.
Kern & Co. put their loss at $3,000 above insurance.
The Mexicans in the rear of the burning buildings worked hard and well to prevent the fire from spreading and lent valuable aid to the Fire Department.
“Disfigured but sill in the ring,” was the sign that appeared over the door of Dunn’s restaurant this morning shortly after the fire.
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