Daily Republican., 1879-08-23
nEussorn,s DIsAsTsoUs 1IsE.


scene 70 be Remembered.
Special to the Republican. ..
RKHoBorH CITY, Aug. "a, 70.
At ten minutes Of three O'Clock this
morning the terrible cry Of "ire! hre!"
rsvsrbsratsd along the corridors Of the
Surf House. Instantly there was con-
sternation and wild rush made by the
inmates for the passage ways that lead
down the side of the building. The
flames could be heard in the rooms be-
low seething and roaring and vast vol.
umes Of heated air and smoke rolled
along the lower hallway and up the
main stairway.
A colored servant of the establish
ment had been awakened and through
some means or other her attention had
been directed to the laundry. Upon
investigation she discovered that the
laundry was in flames. 1t was her sub
sequent cries that alarmed the sleeping
inmates.
When the alarm was given there was
instantly great confusion. Along the
extent of the building in the upper
stories there are long Railways extend
ing from one end to the other at each
end of which there are steps leading to
the piazza below. This wise provision
for an emergency like that Of this MORN
ing was q fortunate idea Of the design
ers Of the building for 1t was beyond
all doubt these stairways as fire escapes
were the means Of saving the lives Of
all those in the building.
The time that elapsed from the sound
ing Of the alarm until the whole build
! ing was enveloped in flames was very
short, so short in fact that the boarders
escaped only with their lives and the
night clothes upon their persons. Some
of those in rooms when awakened were
so confused that they could not find
the keys, and in some instances were
compelled to make their escape through
the transom.
When all had gotten out tho sight
that presented itself was an awful one.
A strong northwest wind was blowing
at the time, and the great volumes of
sheeted flame cracking with the fierce
ness Of its fury Tapped over and curled
above the beach, while the breaking of
the pillows below played a wild, wierd
symponthy that contrasted harmonious
ly with the roaring of the other ele
ment.
The people could do nothing but
look ON in silence. They were stand
ing there in the cold gray of the morn
ing, comparatively naked, while their
possessions were fast being consumed.
The wood was dry and the building
burned like tinder.
The alarm was spread among the re-
sidents Of the adjoining cottages, and
people were hurrying towards the con-
fagration from all directions. The
Bright House, half.mile above, emp
tied itself, and at the time the flames
were at their heighth, there were about
four hundred people upon the beach
viewing the work of destruction that
was fast going on before them.
No effort had been made to check the
FIRE. 1t would have been impossible
and the only thing done was to save
the books of the building, the piano
and the organ. This was all that could
be gotten out.
There were thirty visitors domiciled
5 in the building, most all of whom had
their wearing apparel and otherwise
! provided for a protracted stay.
Among the Wilmington people pres
ent were Mr.. David S. Truitt, Edw arc
D J. Mulhausen, Miss Mollie Solomon
y Miss Caddie Shelp, Miss Matte Pickeli
/ and Mr.. John Rodney. Mr.. Truitt los
3 everything. Mr.. Mulhausen who wa'
: one of the first to escape secured his
! apparel with the exception of studs
and shirt buttons and the like. Miss
t Mollie Solomon lost everything, whil'
e Miss Caddie Shelp escaped with thu
:, most modest amount of apparel.
Miss Pickels was also among the NOR
unfortunate ones. The others with tn
family of Mr.. BillaIy, had most al
4 their possessions consumed. Their
q were az number OF Baltimoreans an'
K people from other places visiting Mr.
5 Billany, who were likewise inceAven
! fenced. Among them was Mr.. Johl
Rodgers, the private Secretary Of Pres
e ident Hayes, Mrs. Rodgers, Miss Phnb
: Rodgers, Mrs. Osborne, Mr.. Rodgers
y wife's sisters were all together, and al
II were left destitute.
e The unfortunate ones were all take
= charge of by the families Of adjoir
- - ing cottagers, and temporarily provit
ed with clothing. A great many wei
so unfortunate as to loose their watcht