The Dickinson press., 1892-09-24
IS NOW IN RUINS.
Rockaway Beach, the Famous
Summer Resort on Long
Island, Visited by Fire.
Over One Hundred Frame Build
ings Besides a Score of
Hotels Destroyed.

conf1aSratlon that has. ever occurred on
Long island coast destroyed over 100
frame buildings here to-day and let about
1GO acres mass o! ruin. The main portion
oi this famous old summer resort has been
completely wiped out. The burned dis
trict includes both sides of Seaside avenu 9
from the Long Island railroad track and
about half q mile nor,h h from Seaside ave-
nue.. The fire broke out this aftcrn ION in
close to tho beach.
The building was large structure
erected many years ago and was filled with
curiosities. John Cornish, the proprietor,
who was the first to notice the fire, as the
flames began to roar over his head, remem-
bered that woman who had been en-
ployed by him was still in the building.
He started to run up stairs, hut the flame
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 tie handkerchief over his
nose and mouth rushed into the building
which was now on fire from top to bot ON
and having hastily obtained the woman's
probable location made ior that point and
called her name. He got no response and
as the flames were rapidly advancing upon
him, he was Obliged to t,irn and leave the
woman to her fate
MANY BUILDINGS DESTROYED.
Almost simultaneously Scaman's hotel,
which adioincd the museum, caught fire
and within five minutes ter the flames
broke through the roof Of the museum the
fire was roaring on both sides of the avenue
and, famed by the wind, began to eat its
way in all directions. In quick succession
the flames attacked the other hotels along
the beach and OH both sides OF Seaside ave-
Eue. Among the principal buildings
burned were Collins hotel. Murray e.
DATES Gran Ocean hotel, New York hotel,
Peterson & Barry's hotel. pavilion and
pier: Columbus hotel, l.. Roachs hotel,
annex of Wainwright e. Smiths hotel,
Wainwright e. Smiths pavilion, Burchell's
grocery store. r. Simpsons hotel, Kruse's
hotel, DIR. Pulls drug store, Petcrson's poal
room and Globe hotel, the fire tower. the
electric light station and Garrison's hotel,
and on the beach the Hotel Stuttgart,
Ocean house. Columbia, Schubcrt's hotel,
Morrisou's hotel. Grand Republic hotel,
Hotel Abcmurle and the ST. James on-the-
Boulevard.
MADE A CLEAN PATH.
Besides these buildings. which were all
of large size, a host OF smaller buildings
occupied by drug stores, cigar Stores ice
cream and candy stores, shooting galleries
and stores of such class were destroyed.
With them went merry 20 rounds, carous-
,l, toh al; ,tn 81, mi ;1or
devices found ut seaside resorts.
The scene was grand one. The imm ense
bank OF flames shot high into the air and
dense clouds OF smoke rolled hither and
thithcr as the tit:ul gale changed its direc-
ton. In vain the few residents OF the beach
aided by boatnen along the shore batted
with the flames when they first started.
Their efforts were thrown away. as the fire
drove them back from point to point. The
| volunteer fire department o. the beach was
| utterly powericrs to stay the flames.
| AID WAS SUMMONED.
A building was blown up with powder
and Others torn to pieces in attempting to
stay the flames, but without avail. Aid
was summoned by telephone and soon al
most u score Of fire companies were on the
scene. Those rom nearby places came
dragging their machines with them, and
those farther away came on flat cars which
were made up in u special train. Owing to
the !utcness OF the season there were very
few guests at the hotels. The only inmates
| in msto OF the hotels were roprictors and
their antilles and u few o! the help who
were engaged in putting the hotels in
shape Tor the winter season.
The flames after having burned them
selves out for want Of immediate material
upon which to feed were brought under
CONTROL but the fire was still burning
brightly at midnight in the center of the
| burning district. The flames OH all sides
| had reached streets or intervening open
spaces before they were checked. The
Long Island railroad depot on one corner
of the burned district was saved and sew
eral buildings in that ncighborhood failed
to ignite. owing partly to change in the
direction Of the wind and all open space
between the buildings.
THE PLACE FILLED WITH THIEVES.
A vast crowd was gathered and not even
on busy Sunday during the summer
months has the place been 50 we'll peopled.
The crowd, however, is not a desirable one.
There are ghouls here who are reaping q
rich harvest from the misiortunes of the
burned out people. Hundreds OF dollars
worth of goods which were saved from the
flames are being carried away by these un.
welcome visitors. Iftrouble is avoided be-
fore morning it will be wonderful. The
worst feature of the robbery is that most of
the thieves have boats and are thus able to
get away with their spoil with little danger
OF being caught.
The insurance on these buildings is not
known. The policies, however, will not
amount to half of the total loss. The iron
pier is badly damaged. if not totally de.
stroyed on the shore end.
Grand Ocean hotel, Murray & Datz Sl1, 900:
Grand Republic hotel, $4,000; Purches gro-
Gerry store. $4,000: Meisners hotel. $4,000:
Trauser's hotel. $1,000 New York hotel S1O,-
900.