The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-16
REDUCED TO ASHES.


euNrHEE's PAVILION AT LOCUST GROVE BURN.
TO THE GRoUSp--NAREow ESCAPE OF THE
GUEsTs-oSE LIFE LOST.
In the dusk Of the evening yesterday many per-
in this city observed the eastern sky to be bril-
lianty illuminated 1t evident there was fire
somewhere on the Long Island shore between Bay
Ridge and Rockaway. and soon the whisper
passed from mouth to mouth that the Man.
haitian Beach Hotel was i'll flames. This rumor
proved to be unfounded. but instead Gunthers
Hotel and Pavilion. at Locust Grove just below
Bath was entirely destroyed The fire started in the
oil room in the pavilion. where William Shueland
alias Dutch and an assistant were engaged in fill
ing the kerosene cans with oil. At the time
many of the guests were seated on the piazza
enjoying the evening breezes from the ocean.
and among them ex-Mayor Godfrey
Gunther the owner of the building, who had just
taken his family to the beach to occupy the rooms
he always reserves for them. The first notice any
of them had OF the fire was in seeing two men rush
out OF the building ablaze. One of these was Shue
hart, and the other. whose name could
not be learned. was the man engaged
with Shuehart in filling the by
some means Shuehart managed to extinguish
the flames. far as he WIS himself concerned. but
not until he badly. although it il believed. not
fatally burned. Roll in the grass. man. roll in the
grass!" Mr. Gunther CRIED but. not needing him.
the man rushed forward aud plunged into the water.
What became of him aitcrward is not clear. Natur-
ally the confusion of the moment was very great,
and among the ladies especially the CONSERVATION
was overw helmng.
simultaneously with the appearance of the burn
ing men the flames issued out OF the oil room WIN
dow and. leaping from story TO story. reached the
roof almost instantly both the pavilion and the
hotel were held within the embrace of the devouring
a1n While women and children rushed to and
fro struck dumb with alarm and surprise, the strong
men took counsel what they should do to stay the
flames the work of destruction complete. A
few minutes sufficed to accomplish the work of de-
struction. Both buildings were OF wood and con-
sequently only as finder to the flames. SO
sudden and complete the tragedy-for tragedy
it proved to be-that although there were seventy
guests in the house at the time none OF them sue
ceeded in saving anything, and Joseph W. Pierce,
the steward OF the hotel lost his life In the effort to
save OF his effects. He lies there" said Mr..
Gunther. pointing to spot in the burning debris
near the upper end OF the pavilion 1t was rumored
that one of the chambermaids also lost her life but
the fact could not be verified, some persons
claimed to have seen her after the fire.
Short as the time during which the work of
destruction was accomplished. the scene while it
lasted was appalling. The flames devoured every
thing which came in their way and threatened the
lives of all who were within their reach. Hap
and one or two others. everybody escaped.
But il the scene was appalling 1t was
from window to window and story to story until the
roof was solid mass OF fire. the sky lighted
up for miles around and it WAS possible to read
newspaper by the light as far away Fort Hsmil-
ton IL was not long until the trail supports which
held the roof OF the pavilion were burned
away and the burning y, , canopy fell with -,
fire had eaten away the four sides of the
hotel and the roof of that also down. Scarcely
buildings and the burning embers here and there
were lett to tell the story of what had just taken
place. Most OF the guests went to Bath and else
where in the neighborhood, but Mr.. Gunther re-
manned on the ground.