New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-17

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Sea Bright n j., June 16.-Ths town, wich
has been burned out several times during its
short existence visited this afternoon by the
most disastrous fire ever known on the New-Jerscy
coast. At least 100 families have been rendered
homeless by the con6agration, and about $780,
900 damage has been done At IL o'clock tonight
the fire was still raging, and fears were entertained
that Sandt's Octagon House and the Peninsula
House would be destroyed. The fire departments
of Sea Bright, Red Bank, Long Branch, Elberon
and Asbuy Park are on the scene, and thou
sands Of volunteers are working hard, endeavoring
to stop the flames The entire business centre
of the town has been DESTROYED with the exception
Of the old postOfice block owned by the Sea Bright
Improvement Co.
The fire started about 4 80 o'clock this after
noon in the annex of Buckalew's livery stable on
the south side of River-st 1t was caused, II is
alleged. by drunken stabeman. who had been
drenched by water thrown on him by some Of the
other stabemen. and who. in revenge. threw a
lighted match into bale of hay The wind
blew strongly to the SOUTH and the flames spread
with great rapidity through the block. Owing tn
repairs being made to the mains of the Long
Branch Water Company, no water could be had.
The fire spread down River-st. TO the Shrews-
bury River, and north and south in Ocean-ave.
Inc buildings IN the Jatter avenue bnat were
destroyed were the offices Of "The Sea Bright
Sentinel and the New-lork and New-Jesey
Telephone Company the hardware store
of Erwin & Nesbitt, a building just com-
peted by DR.. James J. Reed. the,
hardware store and dwelling-house of c.
L. Walters, in which the postoffice the tailor
shop of Louis Soloman, the store of John Harmons
leweller; Kerr's photograph gallery, the Cars
field, small hotel; COnOvers business block, in
which were the stores of Isaac Applebaum, Charles
Desch, Mrs. Jeffry, NJ. Garland, and George Beigi-
ton, and DR.. James j. Reeds drug store. The
next building destroyed was occupied by Simon
Levy, a clothier and the vegetable store of Smith
s. Jacques.
The brick store occupied by Frank Martin,
D butcher, caught fire, and the flames swept
through the large brick building owned by Knapp
& West, grocers, wlping out their store and tha
ledge-rooms the upper floors. The flames
next attacked Hoes's flats, and then destroyed
Mr.. Gorlands house, the parsonage Of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, and the church itself.
Crossing the street, it burned Brelinu's block,
which contained several stores 1t next swept
up and down Rlverst., totally destroying Martins
large stables, the servants quarters, and tha
r6e-houe, and the stables of Sandts Oc-
tagon House, the mill and lumber-yard
Of Cloughy, Nichols & Co., the stables
Of George Elliott, the house of Samuel Jeifery.
two horses owned by Mrs McGhll cottage owned
by Charles H. Deterer, of the Peninsula Housel
and about fifteen cottages owned by fishermen
and other villagers
The flames leaped across the track Of the Gems
trail Railroad Of New-JerSey and destroyed twd
cottages at the south end Of the Octaeon House,
and the gas-house, laundry, servants quarters and
bathing houses of that hotel; and set
fire to the kitchen, which was saved
with great difficulty. The cottage If Mrs!
James l.. Ward, two cottages owned by
Mrs. John II. McGill, the summer house Of tina
Peninsula House. the railroad freight house,
Joness paint store bnd dozen houses owed by
members Of the Sea Bright fishery and their ice
houses and Pippengcrs Hotel were also burned upl
The flames spread with such rapidity that the
goods carried from the stores and cottages caught
fire and were consumed. The Sea Bright firemen
lost most of their hose. being compelled to aban-
don it because of the heat. The tower of the
cottage of Washington E. COnnor caught fire.
but the flames eXtinguished. The guests OF
the Long Branch Hotel and the cottagers of Mon,
mouth Beach, Long Branch and Elberon drove to
the fire in all sorts of vehicles and thousands on
strangers viewed the scenes. All the telegrapu
and telephone wires were burned out, and lie I'M
tangled masses in the streets. The lawns of the
hotels and cottages were covered with store and
household goods OF all descriptions. and there was
Hnsiterablc pilfering ldone. The, poor peopje
who occupied the small dwellings destroyed lost
nearly everything, ana tonight they were walk.
ing the streets. unable TO find shelter.
1t was reported that mothcx
ana her Two children were lost in the fire, bun
the confusion is great that the rumOr cannou
be verified. 1t is impossible to describe tho
anguish of the persons rendered homeless by this
fire. most of them being absolutely ruined. To-
morrow the citizens will call meeting to arrange
Kr their immediate needs Threats of lynchina
vera made against the drunken stableman whS
is said to have started the fire. but he could not
be found.