Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-07
FIRE ON CONEY ISLAND.
The Brighton Hotel and Other Proper,
Destroyed.

The Brighton Hotel and Other Property
Destroyed.
Coney Island, New York's great summer
pleasure ground by the sea, was visited by fire
last night, and before the flames were under
control they had swept away a number of
familiar landmarks The flames started on the
end of the island mos. familiar to the great
mass of visitors, and, aided by the high wind
and tinder-like construction of the buildings,
soon turned the dark and deserted section into
a seething furnace Of fame.
Among the buildings which were destroyed
the West End Hotel. Besides this big
building there was Joseph Parmours bathing
pavilion. DIR. Albert Chambers drug store,
across the post Office, and several small busd-
ings. A total OF ten were burned to the ground.
and the woodwork OF the big iron observatory
was consumed.
At this time Coney Island is almost deserted,
with the exception of few care takers and
those who have made money during the summer
and prefer to live quietly on the island in the
winter.
The place is enlivened only when seighing
party drives in from Brooklyn, and everything
was quiet and still last night, with the excep-
ton of the wind, which was blowing gale,
when the alarm Of fire was given. The West
End Hotel was two-story and basement frame
structure ITO by 800 feet, fronting on Surf
avenue.
TEE ATHLETIC CLUB CASINO.
Separated from it by a narrow street to the
rear was the casino of the Coney Island Athletic
Club, where so many sporting events had been
held. The casino was originally part Of the
hotel. The casino was saved and it was re-
marked that the fremen displayed particular
zeal and determination IN trying to pre-
serve it.
Surf avenue extends west and northwest to
Brighton. 1t is straight and sandy, and in the
summer time is the great sightseeing place OF
the island.
At the northwest corner of Surf avenue and
Sth street was Frederick Burchsrds saloon aud
store. East of it stood a barber shop
Then came drug store, candy store and a
photograph gallery. The gallery and candy
store were closed and the stock and fixtures
had been removed some weeks ago. To the
east OF these. and with its front porch a trife
Hotel The only person In the house at the
time was the Waterman, but all the furniture
it contained was still there.
DISCOVERING THE FLAMES
Judge r. V. E. Newton, Frederick Berkhardt
and his son Robert and DR.. John E. Ward were
sitting in a room back OF Berkhardt's saloon,
when they were scared by observing a fame
appear at the rear of the drug store. They ran
in haste TO give the alarm. The kitchen. in
which a servant was at work, was back Of this
laboratory.
She said after the fire that she thought she
heard an explosion. The wind came strong
from the west over the bay and famed the
blaze into huge bonfire.
The elevators and woodwork of the famous
observatory, whose lookout is $50 feet above the
level Of the sea. caught from the flying sparks
and were consumed. The frame is Of iron and
| is uninjured. The embers from the observa-
! tory fell upon a4bathing pavilion, which stood
| next to the east. and was speedily devoured.
-Four or five small buildings about 1t which are
| used in the summer time went with il.
The new iron pier and its approaches, which
sdloi ned the burned place. were saved.
Fire Chief Robert Sutherland and his assist
ant, George Kliest, made an energetic and Judi
cious use Of the fire apparatus and men but i,
| looked at one time as though the whole settle
ment would 60 when the big house was burn
ing.