Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-09-09
LATEST NEWS.
nE,ri uerlnS OF TIE MOUNT VERNON HOTEL
FIVE PERSONS BURNED TO DEATH.
DISASTER ArCApE MAY.

CAFE ISLAND, \. J.. Sept. 6.-Ihe mammoth
Mount Vernon Hotel, ut this place, took fire lat
night at quarter 10 II oclack, and WAS entire.
" consumed The other Hotels escaped unn-
jured.
The origin of the fire is unknown. MIR. Cain,
the lessee OF the house.was residing in the build
ing, aud had retired previous to the alarm fire.
Ills son, Philip Cain, Jr escaped from the bull
ing by leaping from tho second story window,bnt
Wa badly burned.
With the exception Of the son, the whole Of
Mr. Gains family persisted in the flames.
The following is lit of those lost
Philip CAIN, Sr., the lessee; Andrew Cain; Mar
tina Cain; Sarah Cuin. and Mrs. Alberison.
The oharrod remains OF Mr., Cain were found
this morning.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept g. Mr.. Philip Cam ST.
with Col. Frank T. Foster, of this city. were the
prepretors ofthe Inflated hotel. Mr.. Cain rest
ded ut Nineenitown, y. j., and went to Cape
Island the present season, for the purpose OF
opening the hotel lie WAS sixty five years OF
age.
Andrew Cain, his son, was about twenty years
of age. Martha in her seventeenth year.
and Sarah was but thirteen.
Mrs. Albertson thirty five years of age
She widow. She had gone to the Island to
net as housekeeper ut the hotel
The elder Mr.. Cain leaves wife and several
resided there. Young Philip Cain is about eigh
teen years of age.
The Mount Vernon was built by n company OF
gentemen, at cast of Sl25, 900, upon which
there is not one cent of insurance The build
ing was first occupied in 1858; but Messrs. Cain
and Foster did not become the lessees until the
past season. The hotel was celebrated for its
immense size, and for the superior aecommoda
tions the building afforded to guests. The inte-
rior was well finished and the apartments were
larger and more comfortable than usual AT water
| ing place hotels.
Although the hotel in its late condition. was
! capable OF accommodating 2iUO visitors, it was
designed to have the buildings occupy three sides
! of II hollow square, court yard, and the front
range and one wing were up. One wing had
never been commenced The building con
structed entirely of wood; il was four stories in
| height in the main, with four towers, each five
stories in height. Three of these towers occupied
| tie corners of the building. and one stood midway
OF the only wing.
In addition to these towers there WAS an i'm
mense tower, six stories in height, in the centre
! to the front. The entire structure, both outside
and upon the court yard was surrounded with
wooden piazzas. that extended from the ground
to the roof, with floors at each story. The wing
was quarter of a mile in length. and the front
covered nearly an equal extent of ground. The
dining room, which was l25 feet long and 60 feot
! in width, was capable of accommodating 3O0l
persons There were 42 rooms in the building
1t was claimed that the Mount Vernon was the
! largest hotel in the world.
There was n tank in the centre tower Of the wing
of the mount Vernon, capable of holding TWEEN
~ thousand gallons of water, The water wa,
forcodint it by means Of a steam engine.
The furniture of the hotel belonged to Messrs
Cain & Foster 1t valued at sol 600 upon
which there was no insurance. The total pecu
mary loss by the conlagraton will not fall shor,
| of SI50.OO0.