The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-06-17
DEATH At CONEY ISLAND.
Fierce Blaze in Vanity Fair
Ragged All Last
Night.
FIREMAN MADDEN'S FATE
Hemmed in by the Flames and
Lost While others Have Very
Narrow Escapes.

CoNEY Island, June II. 1898, - Two
blocks in the most thickly settled portion
of the Island were swept away by fire.
which broke out at half past two o'clock
this morning in Fleischmau's bakery, on
Surf avenue. opposite the Bath Beach
and West End Railroad station.
In ali seven buildings were burned to
the ground.
John. alias Big, Madden, q member OF
Hose Company No. 2. of the Coney Island
Fire Department, was burned to death,
and several other firemen escabed death
by the merest chance.
The flames were discovered by a couple
of belated visitors, who had missed their
train last night. An alarm was turned IN
at once When the local fire department
arrived it was seen that outside help
would have to be summoned or the whole
of the business part of the village would
have to go.
Accordingly call was sent out for the
dep rtments at Gravesend, Bath Beach
and SheepsneadaBay.
The danger from spread OF the names
was augmented by the high winds which
seemed TO blow from the four points OF
The compass in turn.
Before the fremen could get fairly TO
work The flames had communicated to
L. Gottlieb's dry goods store on the easS.
II tooK about fifteen minutes after that
tor the whole block to be blazing.
FLED FOR THEIR LIVES.
The inmates of the building did not
wsit to gather up their effects, put fed
to the street in ell stages OF undress,
Many of the guests OF the Marion
House, managed by Mrs. John Meyer.
narrowly escaped with their lives.
The bulldogs were all of wood and
burned like tindsr. After Edward
Kuhu's New York House ca ught, It was
that point, but the wind carried the
sparks over to the roof of Holzer's brew
cry. and soon 1t was seen that would
have to go, too.
It was while lighting the fire here th at
Madden lost his life. He, together With
K. F. Sutherland Haven Marvin. James
Mcbride and Charles Hard wick were on
the roof Of an extension of Holzers brew
cry.
In the extension were stored some
chemicals used in the manufacture of
carbollc acid gas. with which the soda
water, also manufactured BY The brewer.
was charged.
AN EXPLOSION OF CHEMICALS.
Suddenly there was an explosion be-
meath them, and the men on the oof
rolled or jumped off the best way th ey
could.
Only Madden Jailed to jump in time.
Before he could reach place OF safety
lie roof fell in and he was carried down
with it into the roaring furnace under
meath.
Murphy and Lockwood were both
badly burned about the head and arms.
and Judge Sutberland's face was blist-
cred By the burst OF flames as the roof
fell in.
The flames then extended to Holzer's
dwelling house and saloon on the west
and then to James Bases snug Hotel
and CONCERT garden.
These buildings were destroyed IN
snort order. as was the property owned
by the Williamsburg Brewing Company,
on the ,rner of Twelfth stree.
Here the firemsn got control OF the fire
about half-past four o'clock Chief John
Y. Mckane and his fremao worked like
beavers, although theY were tired out
from their work at the fire last night at
Shee9sheai Eay, TO which the Ceney
Island department had bsen called.
THE BIG ELEPHANT SAVED.
1t was by hars work That the big ele-
phant, which directly In the rear OF the
buried BLOCK. was saved. The great
image had its wooded hide well scorched.
For time it was thought that it would
be impossible 10 save the Sea Beach
Palace, which is In close proximity on the
east but a ravorable change IN the wind
did away with that danger
Madden. the only victim OF the fire. was
a very popular young man. He gained
his nickname OF big" Madden by rea-
son of his immense stature aud athletic
abilities.
He was ex-member of the police force
and was general fayorite. He was un-
married and leaves a sister, his only
relative, here.
The ashes had hardly cooled this morn
ing before Auditor Nelson of the Sea
Beach Railroad Company, with gang OF
men was on hand levelilug of the ground
preparatory TO rebuilding.
Most of the burned property was owned
by the Sea Beach Company. Auditor
Nelson places the loss OF his company at
nearly 1000. The total loss is variously
estimated at from $50. 900 to $4,000.
None of the occupants of the burned
buildings saved a stick OF furniture or
anything besides what they had on their
backs When they fed from the flames.
Alfred Girard. of Grayesend Beach,
while helping to pull down Hoizer's
building, was struck By a heavy iron
shutter, which fell from the second story
and received severe injuries to his head.
and dislocated shoulder
There was report that two women
servants in the bakery. had. perished III
the fire. They slept over the bakery, and
although Eo trace OF their bodies could
be found in the ruins, it was said that
they bad not reported their safety
1t Is possible that they escaped, and in
the confusion were reported as missing.
Madden's body was found In the ruins
this morning and taken TO Police Head
ui1arters. Both arms and legs were
-, ~ off oor,1 nj Of off