New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-08-16

the lessee of the burned buildings, feared
that his manager, Mr.. Pierce, who was
then missing, had been burned to
death. The fire was caused by
/ lighted lamp being carried into the OIL
rom. The loss on the building and furni-
/ tue Is estimated at $4,000; insured for
! $4,000. The private losses are large.
-
RAPID SPREAD OF THE FLAMES.
| few minutes before o'clock last evening
bright blaze rising high into the air in the direction
Of Coney Island, gave the impression to all who
saw It III New-York that one of the large
Summer hotels on that island was on fire.
The first news which reached the city
We, that the Manhattan Beach Hotel was in
! flames, and the thought OF what IN ght follow if
such were he case, filed the minds of many with
dismay. II was soon discovered, however. that the
fire not at Ccrcy Island, hut that the Locust
/ Grove Hotel and Pavilion were being rapidly re-
duccd to ashes.
! The hotel and pavilion, Of which. after two
I hours rec confagration, nothing remained, stood
! Immediately to the west of the Locust Grove Pier,
! on the beach at Gravesend Bay, and had long been
vel DltrOnzed by pleasure seekers. The pavilion
was a two-story building, go feet long and
90 feet WIDE facing the railroad leading from the
per TO Coney Island. The basement was partitiOned
of into n Dowling-aey and billiard-rOOm, and back
of the latter was a small room used for the storage
of OIL In this the fire originated. The first story
was devoted to a large open-alr dane
! ing and picnic pavilion, with a bar and
lunch tables while the second story contained about
forty bedrooms, which, when the fire occurred last
night were all full. The pavilion was connected
with the hotel, sixty feet distant, by covered
passage-way, which passed over the kitchen. The
1 - a., I,.l,
basement, in which was the main dining-room.
There were eighteen rooms in the hotel which, like
those in the pavilion, We're all occupied
As near as could be ascertained last night, about
| 7:45, William Schuhord the man in charge of the
oil room, entered 1t with John Marshall, boy from
! Bath who came to get some naphtha One of
| them carried a lighted lamp, and while the
| naphtha was beng poured out 1t ignited
I and set fire 10 the boys clothes. They
/ both rushed ont, aud while attention was for an
instant directed their safety the flames spread
and with almost incredible rapidity the smoke and
| flames euvrloped the pavilion, ran along the pas
| sage-way to the hotel and almost before the
! hotel clerk, guests and servants could snatch
up any OF their property and rush into the air.
the buildings were wrapped in flames. 1t was
feared lasr night that al least one man had not es-
! capped, while another had to be dragged from the
from
himself IN consequence of being intoxicated BY 10
o'clock the buildings reduced to the level of the
ground and the safe in the midst of the smOulderng
debris was the only object that seemed to have es
capped the general destruction The guests and
other persons living in the buildings found shelter
in the neighboring houses and hotels at Bath, and
some went TO Conev Island, but beyond small
| satchels and vases they took no luggage with
| them.
None Of the books of the hotel having been saved
it was impossible to get a full list of the guests, but
among them were Dr.. Purcell, OF Sxty-secOnd-st.,
and his mother, John Pascal and family, Mr..
Steingrafe Mr.. Palmer, Mr. and Mrs. Hop
pen George Gottsberger, Edward Austin
and wife. Mr.. Harding, G. F. Collins Washington,
A. p Luke, Michael J acobs and family, Mr.. Zamin-
sky and family. and Mr.. Jackson, of Colorado.
THE OWNERS STATEMENT
c. Godfrey Gunther ex-Mayor of this city and
the owner of the buildings, stated that he and
number of Tho guests were sitting on the piazza of
the hotel when the fire broke out. Dinner was
lust over and a number of the guests were also
strolling upon the grounds. The first in
timation he had of anything being wrong
was the appearance of young Marshall run
ming out of the basement of the pavilion
with his clothes on fire. He Immediately followed
him. and shouted to him to lie down and roll in the
sand. By this time the existence of the fire
had become known, and seeing that hasty
destruction Of the building was inevitable.
Mr. Gunther warned the guests TO leave
the house as soon possible strong breeze
was blowing from the east and there no time
TO attach the hose to the pipe from the tanks. so
rapidly did the building burn that there was no
time to save anything-not even the clothing and
valuabes of the guests. The excitement
| was very intense for few minutes until
everyone was thought to have made good his
escape The entire structure was valued at $780,
600. OF this amount about $4,000 was covered by
insurance IN the Liverpool and London and Globe
Insurance Company. Mr.. Gunther had reduced
this so, 900 only few days ago.
HAIBeREADTH ESCAPES.
4 gentleman who was living at the hotel with
his family consisting of his wife and four children,
said that 80 little time was given for getting out OF
| the house by the rapidity with which the flames
spread that it was with considerable difficulty that
they were able to escape As their entire wardrobe
and eyves were left behind his loss he said, would
| reach 50 900. The children were dragged out OF
the house IN such haste that they were left with
out their hats, and he had been c3nPeiiGu 10 DoI
row hats for them from the people III the village.
! A Cubsn refugee named John A. Stevens, SAID tLat
| me had 81 900 in money IN a VaIlse III MS ROOM
He was making his way 10 MS roon nss ~ sc
| cure his vallse when he went TO the assistance
of lady who was endeay2rng TO- get out oil tue
| building with several children. When his assist,
Snce was no longer needed, the flames had reached
the part OF the house where his room was situated
and made all attempts to secure the money useless
! Another gentleman. whose name was not obtained,
! sand that his loss IN money and valuable articles
would reach 81 800. and in addition TO this the en-
tire wardrobe OF ms family had been DESTROYED.
| Youuv Marshall who rushed from the basement
/ where the fire originated. ran down the beach for
the purpose Of Jumping into the water and extinc
gushing his blazing clothing: On getting ont OF
| fine wafer his clothes were found 10 have been
badly burned aud he had received very severe in
uries about the face, back and legs. Hls injuries