The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-17
Four Lives Lost by the Burning
of Gunther's Hotel.
A WATCLIMAN'S F00LIIARDINESS.
Entering an Oil Room with a
Lighted Lamp.
TERROR-STRICKEN GUESTS.
Disorder and Confusion Follow
ing the First Alarm.

Owing to the lateness of the hour at which the
particulars of the conhsgration at Locust Grove
obtained Friday night the account pup
lished in yesterdays HERALD was necessarily mea
gre and incomplete Nothing remained at mid
night of Gunthers Hotel and Pavilion put
heaps of smouldering embers. and 1t was known
that Joseph W. Pierce. the general manager OF the
caravansary had persisted in the flames. Rumors
that several persons were missing gained ground.
but as there apparatus at hand for extinguish
ing the fire search was attempted till the dawn OF
yesterday when the flames had almost entirely SUB
sided and the work of destruction was complete.
Then began . search which resulted in the shock
ing discovery that besides Pierce three other
human beings had fallen victims to the devourng
element. These Catharine Rafter and Mary
Louisa Crane. chambermaids, and William Schu-
hardt. the watchman. Three OF the bodies were
burned crisp while the fourth, that OF old Cath
arine Rafter consumed to cinders, nothing re-
manning whereby the body could be traced
but a portion Of the vertibral column and
few small fragments of charred bones. The
thousands who focked to the scene from
this city. Brooklyn and Coney Island during
the day from curiosity turned away from the re-
voting spectacle. All that remained OF the unfor-
tunate victims deposited on boards in a small
frame building which had been used as the SER
wants laundry. and guard was kept over the re-
mains by Officer Scott. The windows of the little
structure besieged by the curious crowds with
such persistence that it found necessary to
place an additional officer guard.
OF THE FIRE
Andrew William Schuhardt, the watchman of the
hotel. shared the fault of many of his fellow en-
ployes, who too commonly deaf to admonition.
He repeatedly warned to be careful in the Oil
room; but he confident, and this conf
dence cost him his life. 1t appears that about half
past seven O'Clock on Friday evening John Costine
and James Marion, who are employed by Mr.. Whipple
at the Bath Park Hotel, went to Schuhardt to bor-
row some kerosene. The Waterman proceeded with
them to the oil room, taking in his hand lighted
lamp. Holding this the young men as he
watched them pour the oil from can into an
other the vapor of the kerosene ignted and envel-
oped Costine in sheet of flame. He rushed from
the room, and Mr. Gunther, who was sitting outside
at corner of the hotel cried out, "Ro in the grass!
Roll in the grass!' But the bewildered man ran
headlong to the shore and plunged into the water
He was rescued by some of his friends who were in
the vicinity and taken the Bath Park Hotel, where
medical aid summoned He is badly burned on
the chest and the exremities. but will recover.
His companion Marion escaped uniniured, and
Schuhardt, seeing the flames spread in the
oilroom, out. Remembering that he had
two valuable rifles in the shooting alley,
however, he went in and picked them
up, handing them to bootblack named "Shine" he
came out. He then returned to the bfiding to save
some of his other effects in his up stairs, and
that the last of him. Meanwhile Mr.
Gunther rushed hither and thther giving the alarm
10 his guests. He gave the buildings up for lost
when he the flames bursting from the oil room.
GUSTHERs POWDER
Tic rot INN, Lao To keoo f vda
which he kept in a room with his fishing tackle and
the appurtenances of his steam yacht This alluson
to the keg startled his hearers but he treated the
matter lightly. 81 escaped" said he. with what
clothes you now see on me. The guests rushed out
wildly and made their escape to the hotels at
Bath Coney Island. in whatever raiment they
CHANGED to have when they warned. Only Mr..
Gunthers presence of mind and wonderful cool
ness in getting out the guests and preventing the
return of those who were anxious to save their
effects. prevented stu greater catastrophe. That
this a difficult task may easily be seen.
gentleman who passed out of the hotel by
the front entrance underworld to return to his
trunk which, he said contained $4,000 in valuables.
Finding he would not be permitted to enter he cried
out Justify the crowd that he would give $500 to
any one who would rush into the building and save
the trunk. His offer however. was not accepted
II sitting with Tom Williams. the clerk, at
a table in the basement of the hotel" said Mr.
Hennessey. the manager of the Pavilion, when
saw the fash from the oil room. Immediately
get of here; this hotel is gone let what
we can We went to our rooms. snatched up few
things and ran for our lives. On my way /
passed Pierce, who was very large fat
man, his way to his room 10
some valuables. called to him for Gods sake TO
come with US and not 80 back. but he would not
heed me. and thar was the last of him. His room
was No. a on the upper floor of the Pavilion When
Williams and got out in the hall we found our
selves cut of from the only stairway and rushed out
ON the roof. We made our escape by sliding down a
pipe.
This statement explains the loss of life. the only
avenue of escape-the stairway to the main build
ing-havng been cut of The two cham berulaids
who were lost occupied room No. 81, and in this
they were engaged packing mp things for flight
when they were oyertaken by the flames. schuhardt
persisted IN similar manner while in his room.
OFF.
The water by which the buildings steamboats,
ut the dock and locomotives the railroad were
supplied was pumped from well about thirty feet
deep into tank capable OF holding 1880
gallons rn nrs , nd , engines are employed
through galvanized iron pipe two and
a half inches in diameter. About two hundred aud
fifty feet of hose were ON hand for any emergency,
but 1t happened in this that to hose
and the pipe was cut of by the Are The dock.
away the planking at the end near the pavilion
MIR. Gunther estimates his loss at $4,000. The
buildings insured. chiefly in the London. Liver
pool and Globe Company. for $4,000. The
and from sevcntyhve to eighty guests. The
hotel proper erected in 1868 as a
private residence by Mr.. Gunthcr. 1t was
our years ago the pavilion was added. The hotel
four stories in height. 30 feet square, and tho
pavilion GOx25o feet. The wing winch connected
The hoe; with the pavilion was 10 fect in length.
1HE 1NQUIsr.
Justice Andrew Il. Cropsey, OK New Utrecht. en-
panoed tho following jury at six O'Clock last
ing to hold the iuquest:-Bcrnard Lansilicr fore
man; Townsend Q. Van Pelt. Anthony staler.
A. b. v. voorhis, Enoch Berry, Andrew j.
Cropsey, Hans @. Pfalzgraf, $. W. Du-
bois. John Dubois and Thomas Rice. The
only witnesses examined were Dr. Thomas O'Brien
and Mr.. Hennessey, the manager of the pavilion.
The latter idcntfd Pierce from the watch chain,
breastpin shirt studs. coins and other effects found
near the body. The inquest was then adjourned
till tomorrow evening when IL will be resumed at
Berrys store, New Utrecht
CHASTITY SPECTACLE
The remains were laid on doors and examined sep
arately by the Coroner and the jury. Nothing re-
NAMED OF Pierce but the blackened trunk The body
OF the chambermaid Crane. the only
ono to which the skull adhered. The woman