The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-26
"THE BREAKERS" BURNED.
CORNELIUS vANDERBrLT ,s HANDSOME
NEWPORT vILLA IN RUINS.

Nothing Saved from the Fire-Even tho
Clothing OF tho Member. OF the Family
and the Servants Burned-The silver and
Jewels Were Hurried Into Snfes, mud
Arc Supposed to be Secnre-The Tapes
tries, Paintings. and Furniture Destroyed.
NEWPORT. II. l.. Nov. 25.-"The Brakers."
the costly summer residence OF Cornelius Van
derbilt is tonight In ruins.
Burned bricks and heaps OF ashes are all that
remain OF the villa. which for years has been
counted rs one OF Newnorts largest and finest
residences. Fire destroyed the house. all tho
valuable contents OF the villa. including furni-
ture. bric-a.brac. wearing apparel. and other
rare and costly articles.
The fire was discovered by Mr.. Vanderbilt
himself about 4 o'clock this afternoon. He
saw smoke In the main hail. A telephone
message WINS sent to the city and still fire
alarm was sent in. Mr.. Vanderbilt thinking Mt
that moment that the fire was slight and
easily within control
A few minutes showed this to be serious
mistake and within two hours the building
and contents were entirely destroyed.
The villa was Mt Ochre Point, nearly a mile
and half from the nearest flre station. Before
an alarm could be sent out and the apparatus
reach there. the nre was far beyond control.
A general alarm summoned the entire de-
partmont. The engines were unable to work
to advantage. This was partly due to the
small number OF hydrants in that section OF
the city. where the houses have large grounds
- pre- widely separated.
vas also partly duo to n lack OF sufficient
pressure. There was II break In the
INNS. and the water works had reduced the
pressure one-half In two hours before the fire
was discovered.
To-day's experience confirms that OF pre-.
vious years. that when fro once gets we'll
started in one OF Newport's summer villas.
building and contents are certain 10 he a to,nl
loss. Mr.. Vanderbilt says Tint in the early
stages OF to-day's fire he saw that nothing
could be done to save his pro. ,erty.
The whole building was n roaring furnace
from tho roof to tho ground and from end to
end when the department arrived. Some COM
mon furniture was saved. All the rich tapes
tries. rare paintings valuable bric-h. krac. and
fine decorations and furnishings were beyond
rescue.
The house was built about a dozen or NJ
teen years ngo for Pierre Lorillard Of New
York. and was purchased with tho extensive
grounds. by Mr. Vanderbilt in 1884 for $780,
600. More than 100000 was expended in ad-
dtions and improvements to tho building.
Tho villa was OF irregular shape. about 100
by 30 feet in size. from one to two stories in
height. the lower part being Of brick and tho
upper Of wood. with numerous towers and
gables.
The character OF the furniture and dccora-
tons may be judged from tho fact that in n
single hall were hung tnuestrics estimated to
DO worth 100000 or more. Members OF the
family and servants alike lost all their clothing.
Mr.. Vanderbilt and family found temporary
refuge in the gardeners cottage on the
premises. and were nfturw8rd entertained by
ne2hbors. Mr. Vanderbilt could give no ac-
curate estimate Of his loss which he said was
largely covered by insurance through New
York brokers
lie added that. although lie intended to re-
main in his cottage here until after Christmas.
his family would now go ut once to New York.
He will probably build n new villa at an carly
day.
The silver and jewels were placed In the
safes by the servants. and arc probably all
right
Mr.. Vanderbilt and family havo been here
only since Oct ]. having spent the season
elsewhere this year because Of the recent
death OF their eldest son.
Nearly every residence IN the vicinity OF to-
days fire represents. with its contents ard
surrounding grounds. hundreds OF thousands
Of dollars.