The Portland daily press., 1892-09-21
A FIEND AT THE SEASIDE.
How Fire Held a Grand Carnival at
RockaWay Beach.
LITTLE BUT SAND AND RUINS
LEFT OF THE RESORT

The Fire Fiend Took in the Museum and
Then Visited Hotels, Shooting Caller
les and Other Attractions-His Visit
Cost One Human Life and the Loss of
Couple of Million of Dollars.
RocKAwAY BEACH, L. l., September
20.-The largest confegration that ever
occurred on the Long Island coast, de-
stroyed over 100 frame buildings today
and left about 100 acres mass of ruins.
The main portion of this famous old
summer resort was completely wiped
out. The burned district includes both
sides of Seaside avenue from the Long
Island railway track. The fire broke out
at II. 30 in museum close to the beach.
The flames were first seen when burst
ing through the lower floor Of the mus
cum building. The building was large
frame structure erected many years ago
and filled with curiosities. Mrs. Phillips,
employed at the museum, was burned
to death, being unable to escape from
the building.
The high wind carried the flames
across Seaside avenue where they COM
municated with Meissners hotel. From
this building they leaped to Meissners S
hotel. Almost simultaneously, Seaman S
hotel, which adjoined the museum,
caught fire and within five minutes after
the flames broke through the roof of the
museum,
The Fire Was Roaring
on both sidea of the avenue. Famed by
the wind, it began to eat its way in all
directions. In quick succession, the
flames attacked the other hotels along
the beach and both sides of Seaside
avenue. Among the principal buildings
burned were the Collins hotel, Murray &
Datz's Grand Ocean hotel, the New
York hotel, Peterson & Barry's
hotel, Meyers hotel, the pavilion and
pier, the Columbus hotel, F. Reaches
hotel, the annex of Wainwright and
Smiths hotel, Wainwright and Smith s
pavilion, Burchells grocery store, R.
drug store, Peterson's pool room, the
Globe hotel, the fire tower, the electric
light station, Garrison's hotel, hotel
Stuttgart, the Ocean house and others.
In vain the few residents of the beach,
aided by boatinen along the shore, bat
tied with the flames. The. volunteer fire
department of the beach were utterly,
powerless to stay the flames. The fire
department was handicapped by the
scarcity of water. After all the hose of
which the beach boasted had been at
tached to the hydrants, the water did
little more than flow from the nozzles.
An attempt was made to check the
flames by blowing up buildings, and
buildings were torn down in all direc-
tions to no purpose as the fire gained
such headway in every instance that it
leaped across the space thus cleared.
Aid Was Summoned.
by telephone and telegraph from Far
Rockaway, Wood Haven, Ozone Park,
Inwood, Long Island City and Jamaica.
Each of these places responded and soon
almost score of fire companies were on
the scene.
Owing to the lateness of the season
there were very few guests at the hotels,
the only inmates in most instances being
the proprietors and their families and a
few of the help who were engaged in
putting the hotels in shape for the win
ter season. The carousals, merry-go-
rounds, and shooting galleries in most
instances were partially dismantled. At
$50, the flames, after having practically
burned themselves out for want of
material, were got under control but the
fire was still burning brightly at mid
night in the centre of the burned dis
trict The flames on all sides-reached
streets or intervening open spaces before
being checked. The Long Island rail-
road depot was saved. How the flames
started is unknown. Many believe the
fire the work of an incendiary. Others
think it resulted from carelessness or
spontaneous combustion. Mrs. Phil
lips so far as known was the only person
who lost her life. A number of men
received severe burns and other injuries
while fighting the flames. Estimates of
the total loss vary widely. By some it
is estimated at 81 100000. while others
do not believe the total to be quarter of
that amount. Hundreds of dollars
worth of goods were saved from the
flames to be carried off by thieves.