The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-21

RocxAwAy Beach, Sept. 20. = The
largest connagration that has'evcr oc-
Cured on the Long Island coast dc.
stroyed over 100 frame buildings here
to-day and left 100 acres II mass OF
ruins. The main portion OF this ia
nous old summer resort has been COM
pletely wiped out.
The burned district includes both
sides of Seaside avenue from the Long
Island railroad track and about hall a
mile north from Seaside avenue. The
fire broke out about 1925 this alter
noon in the Seaside museum in Seaside
avenue, close to the beach. John
Cornish, the proprietor, was the first to
notice them.
Cornish, as the flames began to roar
over his head, remembered that n
woman who had been employed by him
was still in tho building. He started to
run up stairs but the flames and smoke
deferred him and he rushed into
the street crying, For Gods sake,
save Mrs. Phillips" His cries were
heard by John Barnes who, without
waiting to do more than tic
handkerchief over his nose and mouth,
rushed into the building which was now
on fro from top to bottom, and having
hastily obtained the woman's probable
location made for that point and called
her name. He got no response and as
the flames were rapidly upon him, he
was obliged to turn and leave the wo-
man to her fate. In the meantime the
flames fed by the dry sides of the build
ing, burst through the windows and
roof. and soon the surrounding build
ings were threatened.
The high wind which had been beat
ing with varying fury for the past three
days carried the flames, now leaping
from the roof OF the museum across
Seaside avenue, whero they commune
Gated with Merits Hotel, and from this
building they communicated to Meis-
sener''s shooting gallery, and which ad-
Joined the hotel.
Amongthe principal buildings burned
we're Collins hotel, Murray & Datz's
Grand Ocean hotel, New York hotel,
Peterson & Barry's hotel, Meyers hotel,
Pavilion and pier, Columbus hotel, F.
Roch's hotel, annex OF Wainwright &
Smiths hotel, Wainwright & Smith
pavilion, Burchell's grocery store,
b. Simpsons Hotel, Kruso's Hotel, DIR.
Pulls drug store, Peterson's pool room
and the Globe Hotel, the fire tower, the
electric light station and Garrison's
hotel, and on the beach the Hotel
Stuttgart, Ocean House, Columbia,
Schuber's Hotel, Morrison's Hotel,
Grand Republic Hotel, Hotel Albe.
marie and the st. James, ON the Boule-
ward.
Besides these buildings, which were
all OF largo size, a host of smaller build
ings occupied by drug stores, cigar
stores, ice cream and candy stores,
shooting galleries and stores of such
class were destroyed. With them went
merry-go- rounds, carousals, toboggan
slides and the many similar devices
always found at seaside resorts. The
volunteer fire department of the beach
was utterly powerless to stay the
flames.
A building was blown up with pow
der and others torn to pieces in at
tempts to stay tho flames but without
avail. Owing TO tho lateness OF the
season there were not very many guests
tthe hotela Tho only inmates in most
instances were the proprietors and their
families and n few Of the help who were
engaged in putting the hotels in shape
for the winter season.
Mrs, Phillips, as far as is known, is
the only person who lost. her life in the
conaagration. 1t ia impossible tonight
to even approximately estimate the
losses.
The estimate Of the total losses vary
widely. By some it is estimated at
over 100000, while othors do not be-
lieve that the total will amount to one
quarter that amount. The owners OF
buildings are wildly distracted and are
as much at sea as any one else. The
scene has its sad side also. Losers by
the flames are broken hearted and
many of them give way to tears.
Women and children who have miss.
ed fathers or brothersin the awful surg
ing crowd arc rushing about trying to
find them. The most pitiful cases Of
all are those of the children of Mrs.
PHILIPPE. Her two eldest daughters keep
as near to the spot where their moth
ers ashes are as they can possibly get
and both are yerging upon Mysteries.
-.-o-.-
Springer Talks.