New-York tribune., 1878-11-11
A HEA w FIRE AT CAPE MAY.
THE RESORT DESOLATED.

l1lE hECuhl DrsOOLh
SEVERAL HOTELS AND A LARGE NUMBER OF BUILD
INGS BURNED IN GALE,
CAPE MAY, N j., Nov. 10-The most disastrous
fire that ever visited this city broke out yesterday
morning. The fire started in the attic of the Ocean
House. on PeITy-st. below Westinghouse, the main
thoroughfare OF Cape May. 1t was evidently the
work of an incendary, because no one having au-
thOrty to do so had gone into the hotel for several
days. The lessee, Mr.. 5. II. Ludlam, had left for
Philadelphia only few minutes before the fire
broke out.
The fire was discovered about a. M, police
officer giving the first alarm. The fire department
of the city. consisting of a truck, one hand
engine and a number of chemical engines
responded promptly, but it was soon found
that they could do very little 10 subdue the
flames. Not only was it impossible to contine the
fire to the building in which it originated but 1t
could not be prevented from shooting across Perry
st. to the west and attacking Congress Hall. The
wind was then from the northwest. and was blow
ing at the rate of thirty-six miles an hour. The
flames soon communicated to the new wing of Con-
gress Hall, fronting on Perry-st and to the Mer-
chants House, on Jackson-st end then spread rap
idly to the Centre House. the Centre House Cottage,
the Paterson cottage and then down toward the
beach. The buildings being all of a very infam-
mable nature did not resist the fire in any degree,
and nothing could be done effectively TO save any of
them. The heat intense. and the
sparks filled the air, firing everything rapidly
to leoward. The Merchants Hotel was once brought
almost under control, but the powerful wind took
the matter out of the hands of the iremen and tae
buding was soon again mass of roaring flames.
Itsoon began to look If the whole town would 60.
Fenons cottage by thesea, Charles Snc!kcs Centcn-
NAL House. and Mrs. Millers cottage on Jackson-st.,
e.. H. ti.., tlo,,f fl,o
flames reached the old Atlantic House. AT this time
the fire was raging furiousy. The flames then SHOT
across Jacson-st to George HillwOrths cottage, OPP
posite the Atlantic House. This was about hafpast
10 o'clock 1t was not long before the flames COM
munIcated to the cottage of the late Thomas +. Ca
hill. presidcnt of the Knickcrbocker lee Company,
Of ofPmladelphia. The KnickerbOcker House. William
l.. Kings hot bath establishment, George FryeI's
cottage on the bluff below the Ocean House, the
Avenue House, kept by George I. DOugherty, and
S. A. Randolph's cottage OH Jackson-st., followed
very quickly one after the other They were all
burned to the ground. While the fire was at its
height, and when the Avenue House was burning,
a steam engine from Camden arrived by the special
train and did good service in fighting the fire. This
was about II O'clock.
The flames then attacked the two cottages OF
Alexander Mcconnell, adjoining Randolphs, but
they were not damaged to any serious extent. Ran
dolph's cottage was only partially consumed. Back
Of CahPs cottage on Decaur-st., was that of Judge
Hamburger which was destroyed. Three of w T..
Kings cottages were next burned. and then came
word that the Columbia House. on Ocean-st., be-
tween Washington-st. and the beach, was on fire.
This property was entirely destroyed with marvel
Ions rapidity. together with number of outbuild-
ngs III rear OF the Office of The Cape May Hare.
The wind ana the Insufficient means al command
for cXtlu gushing the rt made ii almost impossible
10 do ANYTHING TO save a large building when once
il had ignited. The Stockton Hotel was saved bow
ever, al Though II took fire from tylnG clnders. Two
of Warmers cottages StocktOn-rOw were also
saved after they hal been set fire, but thOGs-
and bath houses back Of the Stockton Hotel, the
Columbia bath houses, and flasher ;, SmOots and
the Beaver cottages were all burned.
The last building attacked was the Wolf Cottage,
n block away from The Stockton House This was
almost entirely destroyed. The fire engines here at
q d. H.. checked the flames. a second steam fire
cngIue arrived from Camden, at 1870 p. m. and rem
dered very efficient and
McCTay's Cottage on JaCksOn-st. one of the oldest
uutdIngs on the island, Went early IN the day. The
properties in COlumba-ave escaped injury. The
bnrntd district area OF fOrty acres III Is
situated between Congrcss-st. on the west, Wash
lugton-st on the north. Ocean-St on the east, and
the beach the south The water supply, winch
yas furnished by artesian wells, was good. NO
hives were lost by the fire, and no one was seriously
injured. The two steam engines remained playing
on the ruins until very late at night.
In 1869 lhls place was swept by a fire scarcely
less destructive tAan that OF to-day, the old Allan
tIr Hotel the Greenwood, and many other smaller
nluces being totally destroyed. The site of the fire
IN 1863 Was partially the same MS that OF to-day