Daily Republican., 1878-11-11
eREAr FIRE AT CAFE NAY.
y lne Hotels and Twenty zone Cot
sages Burned--Loss about $780,.

soBeD "ObweW-w~s S~Vus O"v~s
900. 8vEtgEEy "A I'D
The most disastrous fire that has eve,
visited Cape May occurred there OF
Saturday, and for several hours after
the breaking out Of the flames 1t was q
question In the minds Of many people
whether upon the morrow there would
be any OF the houses In the older por-
ton Of the town left standing. Summed
up, the confiagration results in the loss
of nine large hotels and their furni
ture, twenty-ons cottages, almost sll
furnished, over one thousand bath
houses and Denizott's pier. In money
the loss is about 100000.
The fire broke out about ] O'Clock in
the morning In the Ocean House and
was discovered by a workman on the
roof Of the Stockton House who first saw
smoke issuing from underneath the
caves. An alarm was raised, but be-
fore the fre department Of the town
which consisted Of q hand engine and
two chemical engines arrived upon, the
ground, volume Of fame rushed from
she upper stories, and in few minutes
the entire building was on IRE.
No sooner was it seen that the hotel
would be cons utned than all the church
bells were rung, and nearly all the in
habitants wers at The scene, and efforts
were made to protect the neighboring
property. The wind was blowing at
th rate of about thirty miles an hour
from the northwest, and it was thought
that the only danger was to buildings
10 the leeward of the Ocean House, but
after short While this idea was dis
PEELED by Congress Hall, on the oppo-
site side Of Perry street, taking fire
from tn. intense heat. = w
v At this time the excitement was In
tense, and fears were entertained that
tn. entire town was doomed TO destruc.
hon. II at once became evident that
the rude appliances of the Cape May
were totally unequal to the
task Of staying the flames, and word
Vas sent to Camden asking for aid.
This arrived at one O'Clock In the shape
OF two engines and two hose companies,
Which were at once put to work, and
70 their efforts, it is generally admitted,
is due the saving OF the Stockton House
apl 10 az, -, hos NJ nntfouas
Congress Hall burned rapidly, though
the wind was blowing strongly directly
against the fire, while showers Of cir,
aers were carried eastward. The heat
was so great that but little effort could
be made to save any Of the furniture,
Ind, consequently, nearly all was de-
stroyed. 4... e. g.. .... a
Just about the time Congress Hall
took fire the flames communicated to
the back portion of the Merchants
House. and this building was lsoon a
mass OF flames Then next ~csms the
Centre House on Washington street,
between Perry and Jackson. The Centre
House cottage and Peterson's i cottage on
Jackson street, caught about the time
the Merchants House was burning,
and were scon in ruins. Down yacH
son street the flames swept everything
clean to Ocean Drive, taking id its
course all the outhouses connected with
the various hotels, John Filon's ten
pin alley, Filon's Cottage by the Sea,
5uelke's Centennial Hotel, and Mrs.
Miller's cottage. Adjoining the latter
was the Atlantic House, it being the
nearest to the sea, and it was also total
|y destroyed. On Perry street, below
HE Ocean House, Fryer's cottage and
he Avenue House, at the corner of
Beach Drive we're also destroyed.
The flames in their course next took
he square bounded by Jackson, Wash
ngton and Decatur streets, and Beacon
Drive, destroying the following named
properties: Thomas ". Cahill's the
lnickerbockrr, Rudolph's, ,McConnell's,
Judge Hamburger's w. 4. Kings and
Denzott's cottages besides large num-
Der Of stables and ontbnildings..
On the square bounded by Decatur,
Washington and Ocean streets, and
3each drive, the Columbia House, the
Beaver Cottage, Thomas e. Tasker's
md Col. Smoot's cottages were de.
'troyed. "t 3NREG VI 3 g}f
All the outhouses of the hotel, and
,early a thousand bath houses belong
ng to the same property and the Stock
on Hotel were entirely swept away. On
he east side Of Ocean street, Just in
he rear Of the Stockton row, were four
Inc cottages which were destroyed.
When the fire reached this point it
vas about five O'Clock, and, owing to
he exertions Of the freinen and citi-
lens, its progress was stayed. All o. !
,early all the buildings destroyed con
aimed complete outfits Of furniture, and
'ut in few instances was any Of it
aved. Commencing at Congress street,
md running east" ardly along Ocean
Drive to Guerney street, the flames
wept clear every vestigs of house, a
listance of over two thousand feet, and
xtending north to Washington street, |
xcept the Congress Hall block, which
uns up to Lafayette street.
Congress Hall, the second hotel in size
t the Cape was 700 feet in length,
hree stories high, owned by Richard
!. Dobbins, Charles s. Bayliss, An
(rew M. Moore, E. c. Knight, J. B.
dcCreary and j. G. Neaffe. The total
oss including building and furniture
fully $l25, 900 on which there is an
Insurance in different Insurance Com
'anies amounting to $4,000.
The Ocean House 800 feet long, is
wned by Samuel R. Ludlam, and the
oss on the building and furniture II
bout $4,000, insured for $45, 900,
1000 of which is in the Delaware OF
ais city. .Y.,.H