The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-01
LARGE FIRE AT CAPE MAY.
-Four Hotels and Many Other Valuable
Buildings Destroyed.
A Freight Depot in Quincy, ILL.,, and Cotton
Mill in Rhode Island Burned.
THE FIRE At CAPE MAY.

THE FIRE At CAPE MAY.
The United States and New Atlantic Hotels,
the American Row and Several Cottages
and Stores Destroyed-Narrow Escape of
the Other Hotels.
[Cape May correspondence august 3l Of the Phila-
dephia Evening Telegraph
The slst Of August will be memorable day in the
history OF Cape May. At half-past two A. M. the
dreadful cry OF fire was heard, and In few minutes
thereafter your correspondent was at the scene
of confiagration. At that time 1t was confined to
the small Japanese store OF P. P. Boyton the pearl
diver situated on washington street. adjoining the
Post ONCE. At this time few buckets Of water
would have saved hundreds Of thousands OF dol
lars; but the innammable nature OF the rice
paper goods stored In the building, together
with the want OF organization and the alb
sence OF buckets or tools of any description,
allowed the fire to obtain such a Roadway that IN
short time the frame buildings the east OF BOytons
were enveloDed in flames as far as Townsend's dry
goods store, the corner Of Decatur street. oppo-
site the La Pierre House. The La Pierre was closed
for the season, ana by the presence Of mind Of Mr..
Edmund A. Souder, who directed the crowd, the
house was broken open. carpets torn up, saturated
with water, and spread over the roofs and ont
OF the windows not only saving the hotel but
Riegels new cottage adjoining. The wind, at
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
ladder truck was brought upon the ground. There
was an immense tank holding 100 gallons in the
loft OF the United States all Of which used on the
pearl Divers store and Post Offce, but without
effect
About forty five minutes past three in the morning
the United States took fire. and in fifteen minutes
the whole structure was in ruins, the cupoa having
fallen in about four O'Clock Barrett's billiard rooms
and tenpin alleys soon followed the United States,
and the row of stores and dwellings in the Old
American House following in quick succession the
whole block from Decatur street TO Jackson street
was destroyed
In about twenty minutes the wind carried the
sparks across the intervening lot to the new At
lantic Hotel, and this, together with all the stores
Centre House was in imminent danger from the
sparks but trees in front OF the house protected 1t
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 THERE engine, succeeded In saving
that direction. as well as saving the Ocean House.
The old Atlantic was on fire several times, but the
flames were put out and 1t was saved. The board
walk in front Of the new and old Atlantic was
burned. The Columbia House was saved by the
sms e%s stlWe and Alderman Massey who
wrapped In wet blankets, kept their posts on the
roof Of the washington House, though everybody
nearest building to the fire. Had 1t ignted the Co.
lumbia would have been destroyed. The cottage
opposite the United States Hotel on the corner OF
Decatur and Washington streets. occupied by
william L. Hirst, OF your city, was destroyed.
Inc scene ron .ne sS Columbia as blouse was ,s e
the frame buildings and the huge clouds or smoke,
interspersed with sparks doated out to sea and
hung like q pail above the surf.
The buildings destroyed are as follows:-United
States Hotel, Post once, Boyton's store T0wnsend's
OF gas works Greenwood Cottage, Barretts saloon
and tenpin alleys, American House row, Ellmaker's
sioan's store, Humans drug store. H. Hall stsnton's
new building. the Old Reigel cottage, Mrs.
the %a BS the old
tic stables. The row OF stores between Decatur and
Jackson streets were partially torn down to prevent
The loss BY the 1re is estimated at over $3.50 ooo
Mr.. Aaron Miller has about $4,000 insured on the
tic: NJ Hail Stanton's loss is Covered BY insurance.
Mr.. Adolph PrOskauers loss ls about $4,000. Mr..
Bottoms loss in the American row Is covered by m
surance. There are various rum0rs anoat about the
origin OF the fire. Some attribute 1t to accident
others to design.
The burnt district presents desolate appearance
The weccacoe, Independent and Western Fire Com
panes from Camden arrived, and are on the ground
putting water on the cinders.
ESTIMATED LOSSES.
The following are estimated losses as far as be
ascertaned at present:-0cean street. r. SWANS
goods store, $4,000; Young's bakery, $4,000;
Mrs. ROhls trimming store, $1,000 BOyt0ns
store, 81, BOO; POST once ana wings, 81, 500;
United States Hotel, 500 OOO Ferris cottage, 300O
American Hotel row. $25 900; Misses O'Brien's mil
linery, $4,000; Mrs. Alexander's jewery store
81, 500; Semons store (vacant, Evans bazaar IVA
can't, Mrs. Dillon, millinery, $4,000; E. A. Stites'
shoe store 900; Jesse M. Smiths tea store 81 0OO
Ellmakers store, $4,000: Lotus saloon, $4,000
Koeng's lager beer saloon 1000; Soan's bathing |
clothes store, $1,000; HufnaIs drug store $4,000;
Proskauers hotel, $40, 900.
Decatur street-Greenwood cottage SO, 600; John |
sons store 81 600; Gallaghers store 81 900; three
other stores $4,000; Barrett's saloons $4,000; At
lantIc stables, $4,000.
Jackson street Reigel's old cottage, So 500; Mrs.
Brttethals 49, 500; The Canary Bird 81 900; three
other stores SO, 900; new Atlantic Hotel. SEQ, OO0
The United States Hotel was sold last week by its |
recent occupant and owner, Mr.. Aaron Miller, to Mr..
Charles Conway, OF Philadelphia, for $4,000.
INSURANCE ON THE UNITED STATES HOTEL.
The United States Hotel was valued at about |
800 900, on which there were assurances to the |
amount Of &47,O00 which were placed by Messrs. |
John wilson, Jr, & Brother, OF No. 121 South |
Fourth street, In the name OF Aaron Miller who |
owned the entire establishment in the following |
ON THE BUILDING.
Insurance Company OF North America. $4,000
Imperial 5000
spring Garuen Z,oOO
PhRnx OF Philadelphia. 1.500
Reliance ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 800
Farmers' Mutual ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $500
Lancaster City ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 5000
Common wealth. New York. $500
MARYLAND Observation-Disclosures. L500
rntfad Statea HALLMARK 1000 |