New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-09
A SUMMER HOTEL BURNED.
DESTRUCTION OF THE COOPER HOUSE AT
COOPERSTOWN
GUESTS ESCAPE IN THEIR NIGHT CLOTHES
THE FIRE CAUSED BY MYsTERI-
Gus EXPLOSION.

Gus EXPLOSION.
Cooperstown. N. Y. Aug. s.-This popular sum-
mer resort was thrown into fever this morning
by fire alarm. The Cooper House. the leading
hotel, was found in flames long before any
of the summer guests had thought Of rising from
bed3 80 Like all villages of its size COopers-
town has primitive fresubduing facilities: and
also in the rural fashion, Its greatest buildings are
Of wood and thus fire generally means destruc-
tion of buildings. If not loss of life. BY good
fortune lives were lost this morning. The
fire was discovered in time to alarm and assist the
many guests of the hotel in escaping. But. as
is often the case. fright seized many who had
no reason to be frightened. and the scenes were
exciting when they were not ludicrous People
who had plenty Of time to dress rushed out half
attired and Others who were awakened later
were really forced TO appear In half-undress.
The fire was started by an explosion in the
kitchen. just what caused the explosion is not
at this writing known, but within an incredibly
short time the flames had enveloped all that
portion of the building and were rapidly spread
ing over the building. The alarm was given at
once and the guests were awakened by the en-
ployes of the hotel and the electric alarms in
the rooms. The building was entirely of wood
and burned rapidly Some Of the escapes were
narrow, and there was great excitement. The
guests hurried from their rooms In their night
clothes and sought safety on the lawn. There
is no explanation as to how the fire originated.
The watchman had been In the kitchen about
fifteen minutes before the explosion occurred
and found everything apparently all right
The explosion occurred in the north end OF the
building. under the rooms of +. A. Crttenden, the
proprietor. The report was quickly followed by
lames which spread rapidly. The night watch
man gave the alarm and the guests were aroused
as quickly as possible. There were elevators in
the building hence all had TO make every effort
TO escape by the stairways. Not many saved their
effects. The only means of fighting the fire was
by hose attached to the hydrants of the village
water works This was absolutely Ineffective
the streams did not reach half way up the burning
building, and the flames greedlly licked up the
entire structure
The next nearest building was that used as
the servants quarters. which saved. The
air was STILL and that alone prevented the further
spread of the fire No was hurt. and a large
part Of the furniture of the hotel was carried
out.
The guests have been invited to the houses Of
residents of the village. and many Of them have
availed themselves of the invitations thus eX-
tended. Others have gone to the hotels here. and
some have gone to Richfeld Springs to spend
Sunday. Some declare that they will continue
their visit here till the season closes. Among the
guests were the following New-Yorkers: Rear Ad-
mir,l Braine aud family DIR. Morgan Dix, rector of
Trinity Church, and fanny Captain McClenay,
Mrs. Martha j. Lamb Mrs Hobart and family,
Mrs. John Worth. and Mrs. Olcott Many of the
guests lost everything except their night-clothes
n,o Loot g in noOY1 and ipXvQlrNr
The excitement in the town is intense. and
people are busy answering friends by wire that
they are safe.
One family offered 81 900 for the recovery of
trunk lost woman lost valuable papers and
$500 in securities. Help was offered from Oneonta
in the shape of a steamer. but was not accepted
A citizens meeting called at II o'clock at
Village Hall and committee appointed to receive
lost articles and restore them to their owners.
The Cooper House built thirty-tive or
forty years ago as q Methodist Female Seminary
and Collegiate Institute, and was used as such
until twenty years ago, whch it WAS purchased
by II. F. Phinney, of the publishing firm of lvi>on,
Brakeman Phinney & Co.. of New-fOrl. Mr.
Phinney formerly lived at CooperstOwn, and on
retiring from business purchased this property,
and at great expense for improvements and fur
nshings converted it into q summer hotel. II
remained in his possession until his death, when
it passed into the possession of Mr. Crit
tenden, its present owner and proprietor
II was a fine four-stOry frame build
ing with rooms halls and parlors, and capacity
for 800 guests The rooms were wtamed by wood
fires, and the halls heated by steam. Its location
was superb. It stood in the centre of a hand
somely kept lawn of twelve acres on an elevation
Of 200 feet above the level of Otsego Lake. The
,I.o oh distance and tho
view from the hotel fine. 1t never before
had so many guests as it had this season. There
we're 300 guests last night and about fifty en-
ployes in the building. The building cost origi-
nally SS2 900, but of course, WIS not worth that
now 1t was considered worth $4,000, and was
insured for S22, 900 There was also an insar-
ance of So, 900 on pictures. The furniture was
worth $4,000, and was patty insured.
Rcar-Admiral Daniel L. Braine, who with his wife
and SON. bancroft and daughter, ElOise, n guest
at the Cooper House. telegraphed to his son Clinton
in this city yesterday the followng
We are all safe Cooper House destroyed by fire.
viii return we procure clothing. Lost
everything"
This would Indicate that he family lost everything
they had with them, excepting what they hurrledly
mt on They left lots OF clothing behind them in
their home In second Place, BroOhyn, but II was
practically all winter clothing beside the uniforms Of
The Admiral himself. This is the second time the
family of Admiral l'ranc have been victims Of FIRE
in summer hotel at CooperTown The, first time
was few years ago and the day before the Admiral
arrived home from voyage.
WOOLLEN MILLS BURNED IN CINCINNATI.
Cincinnati, Aug. 6.-The Fairmount WOollen Mis-
# Oueen City and Harrison avcs., were burned this
morning. Through the strenuous efforts Of hrmen
and employees, the fire confined % the third and
fourth floors, saving the whole building and slOOOOO
worth Of stock and machinery one hundred and
forty girls employed In the building at the time
but all escaped unhurt. The loss VIII reach 52O,OOO
fully covered by insurance