The New York herald., 1878-11-10

cure ia TINS way lhls i the second time tlat cape
May has been almost destroyed by fre III August.
lstia. hro broke out in a curiosity shop called the
Pearl Divers which swept away half dozen OF
the finest hotels.
DETAILS or THE coSFLAGRATIoS.
The fire started in the attic Of the Ocean House,
Perry street, below Washington. the wing of the
Centre House intervening between the Ocean House
and Washington street the main thoroughfare OF
Cape May. The IRE evidently the work of an
incend;ary there had been fire in
the Ocean House since the close Of the season,
winch was very prosperous one. The hre
was discovered about seven o'clock. and police Of
icer gave the first alarm. The department of the
city. consisting of truck. one hand engine and .
number OF chemical engines responded promptly but
il was soon found that they could do very little TO
subdue the flames The Ocean House for the past two
seasons was run by S. r. Ludlam who. about fifteen
minutes before the rc discovered. left tor Phila-
delphia.
RAPID SPREAD or TIE
The old wing Of the house was not injured when
the fire shot Perry stree; to the and at
tackled Congress Hall in what called the whisxcy
room. The wind was then from the northwest and
was blowing ut the rate Of forty miles hour.
The flames soon communicated To the wing OF
Congress Hall fronting Perry street; at about the
same time il communicated 10 the back part Of the
Merchants House Jackson street Soon after the
main wing Of Congress Hall, on Washington street
caught ire. The irc cAtcndcd t. the Centre House.
at Pcrry Washington aud Jackson streets Then the
flames communicated to the old wing OF the O.ean
House on Perry street ana at the same time reached
the Centre House cottage, and communicated to
Pctersons cottase Jackson street Tho ire then
rapidly swept the adjoining property and com
municsteI to the ten pin alley kept by John filon
Jackson street. Then the Merchants Hotel which
had caught ire previously. but which had been kept
temporarily under siibjection. burst out anew. The
flames made their way down 10 the beach. and it
looked if the whole place would be burned to the
ground
WHOLESALE pEsrnu c1IoN
The fire, sweeping along its course, extended to
Finlon's Cottage by the Sea, Jackson street.
Charles Suckers Centennial House next at
tackled and burned to the ground. Mrs. Mllers cot
tage, Jackson street. followed and then the flames
reached the old Atlantic House. At this time the fire
was raging furiously and the fear generally
pressed that but little of the town would be saved.
The flames then shot across Jackson street to George
Hillworths cottage opposite the Atlanti: House.
This about half-past ten o'clock. II was not
long before the flames communicated to the cot
tage of the late Thomas i. Cahill, presi-
dent of the Knickerbockcr Ice Company
of Philadelphia After cnyeoping Cahills cottage
the knickerbockcr House attacked and soon after
William f. Kings hot bath establishment was enyel-
oped in flames and entirely destroyed George Frycrs
cottage was next in the order Of destruction. This
building was the bluG below the Ocean House and
stood alone For long time it was thought the
property would be saved but fate dccrecd otherwise
although it had slate roof and had been well con-
structed. Then came the Avenue House, kept by
George I. Doughcrty. the property OF the Burns
,f psrrx n1
by S. A. Randophs cottage on Jackson street.
AID ARRIVES CAMDEN.
While the fire at its height and after the Ave-
nue. House had taken fire, steam engine from Cam
den arrived by the special train. This about
twelve O'Clock and in this direction the fire
checked The fame then attacked the two cottages OF
Alexander Mcconnell adjoining Randolphs. but they
were not damaged to any serious extent. Randolph s
| cottage only partially consumed Back OF
Cahill's cottage on Decatur street Judge Ham
burgers cottage. which was destroyed Three Of W.
4. King's cottages destroyed AT this time two
| o'clock the alarm came that the Columbia House. ON
/ Ocean street. between Washington street and the
beach. was fire. The flames spread rapidly over
this property that 1t was soon entirely destroyed to-
gether with number outbuildings in the rear of
the Cape May Ware lnewspapcr) Office. The Columbia
| House fire endangered another locaity--the Beaver
| adjoining. and Colonel I. $. smoots cottage on
| Washington street These were destroyed. together
with the bath houses front Of the Columbia House.
| and also about one thousand bath houses be-
| longing to the stockton Hotel. Some Of the
| cinders from the fire lodged the Stockton
| house roof; but fortunately. no damage resulted
thercfrom. Two Of Warne's cottages on stockton
row caught fire, but the flames ex;ingushed.
The last building attacked the Wolf Cottage. but
block from the Stockton. not 200 yards away.
This was almost entirely destroyed.
FORTY ACRES BURNED
The fire engines here checked the flames and pre-
vented them from going any further. This was
abou six p. VI. At about halfpast four o'clock
another steam fire engine arrived from Camden
and rendered very efficient aid in checking
the flames. McCray's cottage Jackson street,
behind the Centre House and the Merchants, one of
the oldest buildings the island, went early in the
day On the lawn Of the Columbia House. between it
and the beach. two cottages belonging to the hotel
| were destroyed The properties in Columbia
escaped injury. The entire burned district covers an
Of about forty and is situated between Con-
| gress the west, Washington the north. Ocean
| street on the east ana the beach on the south.
The total loss is estimated at about 100000 of
which more than onchalf s covered by insurance on
property and furniture. The insuranccs, however.
cannot be aseertained night. Tho losses ia detail
| are as follows:-
Congress Hail. owned by stock company. $1,000
| Ocean House. $4,000: insurance, $4,000.
| Centre House. owned by j. T.. McCrary, $35.OO0.
Columbia House. owned by John c. Bultt 10000;
| insurance. $55.0oo
| Atlantic House. owned 10y T. G. Knight. $4,000.
Merchants Hotel. owned by william Mason, $4,000.
Wyoming Cottage. owned by George Hildrcth,
\ $4,000.
| Cahin's cottage, $4,000.
| George Frycrs cottage. $4,000; insurance $500.
| Avenue Hotel, owucd by the Michael Burns estate,
| $500.
william L. Kings four cottages. bath houses, &c,
| $4,000