The daily gazette., 1878-11-11
Tho Cape May Fire.
HALF DOZEN HOTELS AND MANY
PRIVATE COTTAGES BURNRD-L Loss
$500, 900.


100000.
Cape May, which rvalled Long Branch
last summer as seaside resort, il in
ruins. AT about 8 o'clock SATURDAY.
morning fire was discovered in the upper
story OF the Ocean House, a large hotel,
on Ferry street, not far from the beach
drive and the plank walk. The wind
was blowing strong, and it soon became
evident that the building must 90. The
fire department consists of a single steam
engine. The whole town turned out to
hight the flames, but all efforts were futile.
The sparks and great burning embers
were carried over the roofs of the build
ings, and fears were entertained that the
entire place might be swept by the
flames. Rapidly the building, with its
$50 feet of frontage on Perry Street, was
| licked up, and the flames spread to the
hne cottage of George Freyer of Phil
aielphia at the foot of the street just
across the street was the magnificent
| Congress Hall, and all in a bunch stood
the Centre aud Atlantic Houses and
various cottages. There was plenty OF
material for the fire, and kilograms were
sent OIL for aid on every side. Special
trains were run down from Camden with
several engines from that city, and a
|
delphia were ordered to the scene by
Chief Engineer johnson.
1t was not until noon that the first helm
arrived IN the shape of engines from
Camden. Meanwhile the flames had
everything their own way. The Ocean
House burned fiercely. At the ,ea end
of Perry street stood the elegant cottage
of Mr.. George Freyer, of Philadelphia
IL caught from sparks and burned rapid.
ly. The wind increased with the fire,
and clouds of brands were caught up and
whirled away, falling upon the roofs OF
the hotels and cottages. Burns cottages
succumbed to the flames, and the great
| Congress Hall, across the street from the
Ocean, was soon enveloped. The heat
was most intense. The wing extending
along Perry street presented along sheet
of fire, which soon spread to the main
building facing the sea. The house can
not be replaced for s125,000.
The Avenue House was next consum.
ed, and then the Centre House, near the
corner of Perry and Washington streets
was attacked. The building was three
stories high, and was about 20 feet IN
width on Perry street and 175 in length
on Washington street. 1t was the prop.
cottage and the Atlantic House were also
in a blaze. The Atlantic House wa.
four stories in height and was surrounded
by spacious piazZas, and had accommoda
| tons for $50 guests. 1t was owned by
Edward g. Knight of Phladelnhia, and
was managed by Messrs j ohm Nom akin
formerly OF Wilmington, and Levi John
son.
The whole square bounded by Jack
son and Washington streets to the Ocear
drive was now destroyed. Flying emberi
E..n doll Na.N N..I..- -.
House, next to the Congress in size. Fol
ed by Mr.. Geo. q. Ward. Jno. G. Bullit
of Philadelphia is the owner. His insur
ance on the building is 10000, and ON th'
furniture, $4,000. The building wortl
probably 100000, went down before the
fierce raging fire, and then the Wyomi nl
House became enveloped in flames ant
disappeared.
Through the cottages in Jackson stree
the fire ragged uncontrolled. On Stockton
row, near the great Stockton House, thu
flames got footing, but the firemeI
managed to get the better of them, ant
the cottages were saved. This was tn,
nearest the fire got TO the Stockton, al
though about a thousand bath house
next to the water, owned by the hotels,
were burned Here the fire was stayed
Nearly 80 acres werelburned over stretch
ing from the water to Washington street
and from Beach to Ocean. The fire wa
undoubtedly ofincendiary origin. 1t tool
everything in the area mentioned, bu
had It got good headway among the cot
tages 10 the west of Washington street
and the stores along that side of the av
enue. the entire city must have been de
stroyed.
The total loss Is about $500, ,O0O;of whicl
about one-half is covered by insurance
ON property and furniture. Among TIN
insurances is one of 81 900 on the Ocean
House, ia the Delaware Company, o
Wilmington.
The fire burned stubboruly from
o'clock in the morning until between
and o'clock in the evening, and wa
checked at VOLTS cottage. The waite
supply was good, and was furnished b,
artesian wells. No lives were lost, and III
one was seriously injured.
In 1869 this place was swept by fir
scarcely less destructive than that of to
day, the old Atlantic Hotel, the Green
wood, and many other smaller places be
ing totally destroyed. The site OF the tr
in 1869 was nearly the same as that
Saturday.