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

FROM C.APE M.AY.

The Season Winds Up with n Grand Connu-
grntiOn-DestrnctiOn of the United states,
Atlantic, and American Hotels, and n Num-
ber of stores and Cottages.
Special Despatch TO The Euening Telegraph.
CAPE ISLAND, Nj, Aug. 31.-Never since the
destruction, over ten years ago, in mid-winter of
the old Mount Vernon Hotel, has Cape May been
thrown into such literal and igurative fermcnt
as to-day. For years past there has been great
deal of talk among the authorities and hotel
proprietors about providing means for prevent
ing the recurrence of another such disaster, or
of checking its progress in case it should befall
the rickety town. The manner in which
the closely huddled shanties which
comprise the bulk of ''the City of
the Sea" have heretofore escaped the
ravnges of the flames falls little short of mar
velous. They are all built of wood, and as the
season lasts but two months at the outside, they
are put together with the prime object of secur
ing MS large financial return as possible while
the opportunity lasts. The cottages which have
been built during late years, and two or three
of the larger and newer hotels are
built in very substantial manner,
but they are, nevertheless, entirely
constructed of wood, and in constant peril from
careessness and malice. From the middle of
July to the middle of August when the season
is usually ut its height, every nook and corner
of the long rows of shambles, us well as every
square foot of the more substantial structures,
are made available for slowing away sweltering
humanity, the largest proportion of the
sOjourners being people bent upon plea
sure as a matter of business, and therefore
but little inclined to take even the ordinary pre-
cautions against fire. The season which is now
about an end has witnessed, perhaps, the
greatest cramming process that has yet been ac-
complished, and the grand rush has again passed
without the occurrence of disaster which would
have the effect of melting those who are heavily
interested in property here to take the precau-
tions against ITS destruction which common
prudence would seem to dictate
To-day, however, has witnessed calamity
such as any one who is thoroughly familiar with
the town has had good cause to anticipate for
years. At three o'clock this morning a fire
broke out in the store occupied by P. Boyton,
the swimming and diving expert, as a so-called
japanese curiosity shop. All sorts of intamma-
BILE contrivances were packed into these narrow
quarters, and when the fire was once fairly kim
died its communication to the entire build
ing was a contingency scarcely possible
of aversion. The curiosity shop was on the
first floor of the building formerly known and
used as the American Hotel, but which has not
been devoted to hotel purposes for several years
past the entire first story being divided into
stores and offices, and heupper floors to lodging
and other domestic purposes by private families
The building was situated on Washington street.
at the corner of Ocean. The entire American
row was of course soon enveloped in the flames
and the property Immediately adjacent shared
its fate, the Post Office and City Surveyors
office being among the establishments which
were destroyed
The United States Hotel came next in the
order of prey and simultaneously with it, the
flames attacked Ferris Cottage, Huffnalls new
drug store, the new Atlantic Hotel. and all the
buildings in the vicinity on both sides of De-
catur street, including Barrett's Bowling Saloon
and McCann's Hotel, as well as all the build
ings on the north side of jackson street,
down to the ocean, When the cOnha
grafton was at its height, the Columbia
and Centre Houses and Congress
Hall were in great danger more especially the
first named, which is very close to the United
States Hotel. Every body worked with will to
confine the fire within the nauowest limits put
ting the meagTe appliances at hand to the best
possible use, and the conhagration was finally
gotten under such control as practically to
lhoulS NHt ehlGly Vi tue luICC llISG CSIuDuSu-
ments named.
The principal building destroyed was the
United States Hotel, of which Mr.. Aaron Miller
Is the landlord. 1t ranked as the fourth hotel
on the island in the way of patronage, having
accommodated about $500 different guests during
the past season, There was an insurance of
SS5OOO on the building, and of $4,000 on the
furniture, but it is impossible to tell at this
writing what proportion of the loss sustained
WIZ be covered by these amounts.
The new Atlantic Hotel, mt the head of which
some member of the McMakin family has been
Tor so many years, ranked next after the United
states, It's patronage during the past summer
having approximSted two thousand guests HUH
nails drug store and the adjoining store were
new structures, and perhaps the most attractive
and substantial on the island devoted to business
purposes, having been erected last winter at an
expense OF about $4,000.