The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-31

Surnuccs.
Second Special Despatch to The E0ening Telegraph
CAPE ISLAND, N. D., Aug. 3l.-The 3lst of
August will be memorable day in the history OF
Cape May. At 215 A. NJ, the dreadful cry of fire
was heard, and in a few minutes thereafter your
correspondent was at the scene of con1agratiOn.
At that time it was confined to the small Japa-
nese store Of p. P. Boyton, the pearl diver,
situated on Washington street. adjoining the Post
Office. At this time n few buckets of water
would have saved hundreds of thousands of dol
lars, but the infammable nature of the rice
paper goods stored in the building, together
with the want of organization, and the ab-
sence OF buckets or tools of any description,
allowed the Ere to obtain such headway
that, in short time, the frame building
on the east of BoytOns, were enveloped in
flames as far as Townsend's dry goods store, on
the corner of Decatur street. opposite the La
Pierre House. The La Pierre was closed for the
season, and by the presence of mind of Mr. Ed
mund a. Souder, who directed the crowd, the
house was broken open, carpets torn up satu-
rated with water, and spread over the roofs and
out of the windows, not only saving the hotel
but Riegel's new cottage adj Joining. The wind,
Mt first very light soon blew pretty
brisk in the direction of the sea, the citizens
were soon on the ground, and the new hook and
lauucT luch was brought upon Jne ground.
There was an immense tank holding seventeen
hundred gallons in the loft of the United States
all of which was used in the pearl divers store
and Post Office, but without effect. About $40
A. NJ. the United States took fire, and in fifteen
minutes the whole structure was in ruins. the
cupoa having fallen III about A. NJ. Blrretl's
billiard rooms and ten-pn alleys soon following
the United States, and he row of stores and
dwellings in the old American House following in
quick succession the whole block from De-
catur street to jackson street was
destroyed. Ia about twenty Minutes the wind
carried the 81 arks across the intervening lot to
the new Atlantic Hotel, and this, together with
all the stores and stables intervening were de-
stroyed. The Centre BOuse was in imminent
danger from the sparks, but trees in front of the
house protected it somewhat from the intense
heat. At this stage of the fearful drama the
hose of Congress Hall was brought upon the
ground, and with the aid of their engine sue
ceeded in saving the Centre, thus arrestng the
spread of the flames in that direction, as
well as saving the Ocean House. The
old Atlantic was on fire several times but the
flames were put out, and it was saved. The
boardwalk in front of the new and old Atlantic
was burned The Columbia House was saved by
the Almost superhuman eXertions of Captain j
who, wrapped in wet blankets, kept their posts
on the roof of the Washington House. though
everybody was driven off by the intense heat
this being the nearest building to the fire. Had
it ignited the Columbia would have been de-
stroyed. The cottage opposite the United States
Hotel on the corner of Decatur and Washington
streets, occupied by Hon. William L. Hirst, of
your city, was destroyed.
The scene from the Columbia House was ter
riflcally sublime. The red flames checked the
| fall of the frame buildings, and the huge clouds
of smoke interspersed with sparks floated out TO
sea, and hung like pail above the surf. The
buildings destroyed are as follows - United
| States Hotel, Post Office, Boyton's store, Town
sends store, Young's bakery, City Surveyors
| office: office of Gas Works; Greenwood cottage;
Barrett's saloon and tenpin alleys; American
| House Row; Ellmakers store; Lotus saloon;
I Kwnigs lager beer saloon; Sloans store; Huff
| nails drug store; NJ Hall Stanton's new build
I ing; the old Reigel cottage; Mrs.
| Bridenthals cottage; the "Canary Bird"
the old steamboat depot, the Atlantic Hotel, the
| Atlantic stables. The row of stores between De-
catur and jackson streets were partially torn
| down to prevent the spread Of the flames.
| The loss of the fire is estimated at over
( $3.50 600. Mr.. Aaron Miller has about $43 600
Il insurance pu tlt NnlVVH Pt'VVr' luSlC MuS nOnG
l at all on the Atlantic. NJ. Hall Stanton's loss
is covered by insurance. Mr.. Adolph
| Proskauers oss is about S6OOO Mr.
| Bolton's loss in the american Row
| is covered by insurance. There are various
minors afloat about the origin of the fire. Some
attribute it to accident, others to design.
Boyton the pearl-diver, has been arrested,
and is now being examined before the Mayor
unon the CHARGE of incendiarsm, though there
seems to be no evidence to warrant the charge.
The burnt district presents desoate appear
| once. The Weccacoe Independent, and West
4 ern Fire Companies from Camden have just ar
! rived and are on the ground putting water on
| tbe cinders, If the wind should yeer round to
| the south there is great danger that the rest OF
| the island would be destroyed.
| RstiInnted Losses.
An extra issue of the Cape May DatY WdUe
| contains the following
The following are estimated losses as far as
can be ascertained at present:-Ocean street, r.
SWANS house. $500: Washington street, Town.
sends drv goods store $4,000; Young's bakery
$4,000. Mrs. Rohls trimming store, $1,000; Boy
toms store, $500; Post Office and wings, S25OO
United States Hotel, 100000; Ferris cottage
$4,000: American Hotel Row. s25,OOO; Misses
OBrien's L-illinery, $1,000; Mrs. Alexander
iewelry store, S2500; Semon's store, (yacanD
Evans bazar (yacant); Mrs. Dillon, millinery
$1,000: E. A. Sites, shoe store, $1,000; Jesse NJ
Smiths tea store, S1000 Ellmakers store
so5OO. Loftus' saloon, $1,000; Koenigs lage
beer saloon, $4,000; Sloan's bathing clothes store
$1,000: Hufnals drug store, $4,000; Proskauer'
hotel $4,000.