The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-21
A SUMMER RESORT BURNED.
Fire Almost Completely Destroys
RockaWay Beach.

RocKAwAy BEAcH, Sept. n. - The
largest confiagration that has ever oc-
cured on the Long Island coast de-
stroyed over 100 frame buildings yester-
day and left about 100 acres a mass Of
ruins. The main portion OF this famous
old summer resort has been completely
wiped out. The burned district includes
both sides of Seaside Avenue from the
Long Island railroad track and about
half q mile north from Seaside Avenue.
The fire broke out about 1926 In the
afternoon In the Seaside Museum on
Seaside Avenue, close to the beach. The
erected many years ago and was Allied
with curiosities. Its hoors, walls and
partitions were dry ~ tindsr from age
and before Cornish realized the danger
that threatened his property, the flames
had run along the fioor and mp the sides
Of the building into the second story.
The suddenness of the outburst daxed
Cornish for q few minutes, and then ~
the flames began to roar over his head he
yemem bsred that woman employed by
him to clean tho building was on the
hoor above. He started to run up stairs,
and he rushed into the street crying;
"For Gods sake save Mrs. Phillips"
His cries were heard by John Barnes,
owner Of roller coasting slide near by.
Having tied handkerchief over his nose
and mouth Barnes rushed into the build
ing, which was on fire from top to bot
tom, and having hastily obtained tho
probable location of the woman in the
building, he made for the point and
called her name. He got no response and
as the flames were rapidly advancing
upon him he was obliged to leave the
woman to her fate.
In tho meantime the flames burst
through the windows and roof and soon
the surrounding buildings were threat
ened. A high wind carried the flames,
now leaping from the roof OF the mus
cum, across Seaside avenue, where they
communicated with Meissner's hotel,
Meissner's shooting gallery and carousel,
which Rdjoined the hotel.
Almost simultaneously Seaman's hotel,
which sdjoined the museum, caught frs
and within Ave minutes after the flames
broke through the roof of the museum
the firs 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 on both sides
of Seaside avenue.
Among the principal buildings burned
were CollinS' hotel, Murray Il Datzs
Grand Ocean hotel, New York hotel, Pc
terson & BaTry's hotel, Meyers hotel, Pa
vilion and pier, Columbus hotel, f.
Roach's hotel, annex of Wainwright q
Smiths hotel, Wainwright q Smiths
pavilion, Burchell's grocery store, r.
Smpson's hotel, Krus' hotel, DR.. 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, the Colum bia, Schuber's hotel,
Morrison's hotel. Grand Republic hotel,
Hotel Albcmarle and the st. Jsmes-o on
the Boulevards.
Besides these buildings. which were all
OF large size, host of smaller buildings
occupied by drug stores, cigar stores, ice
cream and candy stores, shooting CALLER
les, etc., were destroyed. With them
went merry -go-rounds, caroueels, tob-
boggan slides and the many similar de-
vices found at seaside resorts.
Mrs. Phillips, as far az 10 known, was
the only person who lost their life. A
number OF men received severe burns and
other injuries while fighting the flames.
James Peters and several others were
trying to pull down q building with a
chain. The chain parted and the hook
caught Peters in the eye and dragged ths
ball from the socket. Mrs. Phillips was
30 years old. She leaves q husband and
eight children.
By some it 10 estimated that that the
damage is over q, ,00o, 900. while others do
not believe that the total will amount To
one quarter that amount. The owners
of the buildings are wildly distracted,
and are as much at sea as any one else.