Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-13
Cape Mays Blaze.

The fire, which swept over a space of forty
acres in extent broke out in the attic of the Ocean
House about seven o'clock ON Saturday morning
during the prevalence of high wind The whole
place was at once thrown into excitement and APP
prehension. In ten minutes after the alarm was
sounded the whole population was in the streets
The Ocean House was soon envrloped in flames,
and fierce wind from the northwest blew not
only sparks and cinders, but immense sticks OF
flame in all directions, The Ocean House was
not long in being consumed, but before it was
levelled the Merchants Hotel caught and burned
with heat so intense that it was impossible for
the fremen to bring their hose pipes to bear upon
it. Their efforts were directed therefore, to other
buildings, and particularly to the famous Con-
gress Hall, the long of which was directly op-
posite the Ocean House. But their efforts were
fruitless. Congress Hall caught before the first
hour of the fire had passed. and in marvellously
short space of time every piece of timber in it
was reduced to ashes George Fryers large and
beautiful cottage took fire and burned meanwhile
without attracting attention. absorbed were
the people in their efforts to the hotel which
has been one OF the chief glories of the place.
Next came the Avenue House. which was swept
away in hurry, and then in rapid succession the
Centre House, another large hotel; the Atlantic,
hotel which is kept open in winter as well as in
summer; Burns cottage McCary's cottage at
the corner Of Perry and Washington streets,
Wyoming House, the three Mcconnell cottages
and those of King, Cahill, Humphrey, Eliza Miller
suelki, Finley and the Bluff After the fire had
been raging for two hours kilograms begging for
assistance were sent to Camden, nnety-six miles
aud
back that train was about to leave with two en-
gines, well manned They arrived and were put
to work at once, but it seemed hopeless battle
they had to fight The fire crossed Washington
street little after noon. The whole district from
Perry street to Jackson and from Washington
street to the Beech drive was in ashes The long
rows of bath houses belonging to the several
hotels named above were consumed by single
sweep of the flames At this time the wind was
blowing from the west at the rate of thirty miles
an hour. The Columbia House, another of the
caravansaries, caught fire on the east end from a
flying ember, and it was soon too apparent that it
could not be saved simultaneously the flames
were communicated to number of small build
ings in the near neighborhood of the Columbia
and soon took hold of the row OF handsome cot
tages intervening between the Columbia and the
Stockton, including those of j. b. McCreary and
b. X. Jamison, the Philadelphia banker. The
citizens still worked with all their might. Long
lines were formed for the passage Of buckets from
hand to hand, but the water actually seemed
to feed the flames and there was little encourage
ment for any sort of exertion except in the re-
moval OF furniture from the houses and its trans
portaton to places Of comparative safety Fryer's
cottage was fully insured, but the policy on the
furniture amounts to only 81, 800 Congress Hall
was insured for S52 OOOand kept last season by
J, L. Kingsley Co. The Ocean House Samuel K.
Ludlam, proprietor, was insured for $4,000. The
amount Of insurance on the other hotels has not
yet been ascertained but it IL safe to say that all
OF them as well as the cottages are well insured.
The total loss is estimated at Si00,OOO. The fire
burned stubbornly from seven O'Clock in the
morning until between five and six o'clock in the
evening, aud was checked at VOLTS cottage.
About its origin one thing is certain, namely, that
was the dastardly act Of an incendiary Eleven
hotels and public cottages were destroyed and
about twenty-five private cottages, besides bath
houses, billiard and bowling saloons and out
houses. This is the third time that Cape May
city has been almost entirely destroyed by con-
ilagrations, and the residents and property owners
in viewing the ruins express great wonder that,
considering the inilammabe nature Of the build
ings, which have been a constant and prolific
source of alarm to them they never went 10 work
and properly organized an efficient fire company.
The stockton House, the largest and most ele-
giant house, is the only considerable hotel left
standing