New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-06
FIRE SWEEPS SOUTH BEACH.
DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT 10000 DONE IN
AN HOUR
DELAY IN CALLING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO
BLAME FOR MANY LOsSEs-A SHEET OF
FLAME LEAFS FROM ONE HOTEL TO
ANOTHER THREE NARROW ESCAPES.


BLAME FOR MANY LossEs-A SHEET OF
FLAME LEAFS FROM ONE HOTEL TO
ANoTHER-THREE MARROW ESCAPES.
fire which broush, disaster to many of the hotel
keepers and fakirs at South Beach Staten Island.
broke ont shortly before yesterday. and in an
hour destroyed property valued 5000" Four
hotels, big merry go-round and half dozen photo
graphic galleries were swept away. and not vestise
remains except the ronwork and ashes and charred
timhers
The flames were discovered about II O'Clock beneath
the boardwalk which fronts the hotels on the beach
or south side The alarm was given by F. Zaoon.
Greek who conducted a candystand and restau-
rant Apparently sparks from his furnace had found
their way beneath the walk storing place for rub
bsh from the stand and kitchen and ignited the pine
boards. which were dry finder. The fuel under
the walk was such that before the slightest effort
could he made to check the fire the entire front Of
Louis Bauers West End Hotel piazza. next to whose
place the Greek had his stand was mass of flames.
An alarm sent along the beach and bucket
br!sad formed. The hotolmen hecam excited
and made the fatal mistake OF not sending in an i'm
mediate Alarm 10 the Fire Department When they
found the flames getting beyond their control the
alarm was sent in In the mean time the flames.
tanned by the southeast wind. made their way rapidly
into the Yves; End Hotel and in a short time II
beyond saving The fire engines hched TO the
staten Island Electric Railroad trolley-cars and
Rchmond-ave they found the street in an almost
Impossible condition. due to road building. and they
mad struggle to reach the hard road When they
reached ihe scene Of the fire Bauers Iocl abaze.
The department gave its attention 10 the saving
Of the other structures II was discovered that one
OF the two fire hydrants ir tho neghborhooi was in
the rear Of the blazing hotel and impossible to reach
me engines were backed onto the wharves and water
was taken from the Bay. The other hydrani was
found 10 lack pressure and the iremon could do little
In the mean time the flames had spread to Ma
honey Brothers Photographic gallery. which, in
turn. set fire to the Alhambra Hotel kept by Louis
Amolin. and II was seen that the efforts must be
made TO save he contents Of the neghhOrinc
hotels \ squad Of soldiers. who were ordered ont
Of the Fort Wadsworth barracks. sci to work to aid
the crowds on the boa ch and stripped the interiors
OF the hotels. pilng the stun in confusion the
beach. \ number Of New Brighton society girls
i'm bathing suits din heroic work carrying out chairs
and other articles Of furniture.
Hardly had this work been begun than the
Colombo House kept 10y r Bini caught fire. and.
together with huge pavilion. became mass Of
fame. Next the Eureka Hotel. kept by Fritz
Muchc. caught fire. then a chowdor-siand and then
q merry -co-round. Owned hy Charles Loot. and said
to be tho largest in America In less than ara
hour the ground where the buildings had stood was
= blackoncd spot Of ruin.
While the fire was burning in tho West End Hotel
three men had a narrow escape from death. TWO
unknown men were hauling The barroom iurnituI"
our 81 the structure Wil'l llT i'' t' III Nl''i,'
striker and Daniel krohkacl turned the hose on The
men and put ouf the fire on th'ir garments me
men We're hauled ont. badly siugcd and scorch.d;
Samuel Mead hired a room ~ the West tnd h"t.l
shortly before tho nr, broke out To had boon SUD
denly taken I'D. and IN the excitement was over
looked until r NJ Nurcnt. Il waiter remcmberci
MIN. and went into the building and carried MN
ont his back
tive figures could Doe obtained. larg" number OF
stands were destroyed. completely running their
owners \ number N tho no'"l-kccp"rs lost lll
they owned I'm personal property. - far "a colli
be- a-csriaiued. tho losses and insu'anc" are dis
trihuf.d aS follows. West End Hotel loss 81" 49,.
Insurance 5000. Alfamhra Hotel. loss Nr". in~ur-
auco s,0u. Colombo Hotel loss StNl. mo- iu~ur-
1nc,. Eureka lf,'s' loss t,i'T ir+uftrr" unknown.
Ioofs m rrY-g1-f"und. loss f-''' 70 il-.i 'i.'.
Tho destroyed sfru lures W." owed prnrliA'f
ly Frederick B1chWlnn. fh' 'lfion brewer ''''
was tho property Of George Rinccr % This city