Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-20
WEST VIRGINIA
DESTRUCTION OF CAPE MAY.
The Great Watering Place of New Jer-
sey Swept out of Existence by Fire.
An Incendiary's Work.

|
A Cape May, New Jersey, dispatch of
November 9th, says: The worst fire
that ever visited this city was dis
covered this morning about Z o'clock
in the attic of the Ocean House, on
Perry street, below Washington street,
in the new wing of the centre house in
tervening between the Ocean House and
Washington street, the main thorough
fare of Cape May. The fire was evil
IDENTIFY the work Of an incendiary, as
there had been no fire in the Ocean
House since the close Of the season. A
police officer gave the alarm and the
fire department of the city, consisting
of truck, one hand engine and num-
Der of chemical engines responded
promptly. but it was soon found they
could do but little toward subduing the
flames. No one had been in the Ocean
House for several days. For the past
two seasons the house was run by S. L.
Ludlow, who, about fifteen minutes be-
fore tho fire was discovered, left for
Philadel phia. The old wing OF the
Ocean House was not injured
Perry street to the west, and attacked
Congress Hall in what was called Whis-
ky row. The wind was then from the
north east, and blowing SO miles an
hour. The flames spread to the new
wing Of Congress Hall fronting on Per-
ry street About this time it commu-
nicated to the back part of the Mer
chants House, on Jackson street. Soon
after the main wing Of Congress Hall
on Washington street caught fire. The
flames then extended to the entire
house, at Perry, Washington and Jack
son streets, whence they communicated
to the old wing of the Ocean House, on
Perry street, and at the same time
reached the Center House Cottage, and
communicated to the Peterson
Cottage, on Jackson street. The
fire rapidly swept over the adjoining
property to the tenpin alley on Jackson
street. Now the Merchants Hotel, al
ready on fire, but kept under control,
burst into flames, which made their
as if the whole city was doomed. The
fire swept along to Fenlon's cottage by
the sea. On Jackson street Charles
Sulke's centennial house was not burned
to the ground, and Mrs. Miller's cottage
on Jackson street followed. The fam les
now raging furiously reached the old
Atlantic house, shot across Jackson
street to the George Hellworth cottage,
which fell victim, together with the
Capello cottage. The Knickerbockel
house was then attacked, and soon after
VIM. E. Kings hot bath establishment
was included in the destruction. Geo.
Pryer's cottage, standing alone on the
bluff below the Ocean house, was en-
veloped by the flames and burned; then
came the Avenue house. kept by Geo.
7. Dougherty, and the property of the
Burns estate, at the foot of Perry street.
This was followed by S. A. Rudolph's
cottage, on jackson street.
| While the fire vas at its height about
noon, and after the Avenue house had
caught fire, a steam engine from Cam
dem arrived, and in this direction the
fire was checked. The flames then at
tackled the two story cottages Of Alex.
Mcconnell and that of Rudolph,
but they were not seriously dam
aged. Back of CahilPs cottage
on Decatur street were Judge Hamber-
gers cottage and three of w. e. Kings
cottages, which were destroyed At
this time, 2 o'clock, an alarm came that
the Columbus House, on Ocean street,
between Washington street and Beach
was on fire. The flames spread so rap
idly over this property that it was soon
in ruins, with number of outbuildings
and Beauer cottage on Ocean street,
| Thos. E. Taskers cottage, adjoining Col.
L. S. Mats cottage, on Washington
street, the bath houses in front of the
Columbia House, and about 1000 bath
houses belonging to the Stockton Hotel.
Some cinders lodged on the Stockton
House roof, but were extingulshed.
Two of Warmers cottages on
Stockton row caught fire but were
saved. The last building attacked was
VOLTS cottage, about 200 yards from
the Stockton house, where again the
firemen obtained the mastery and this