Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-06
CAUGHT FROM A CRACKER
Ool. Hichbom's Handsome Cottage at At
lantic City Totally Destroyed.
HIS Daughter md Friend, Mis-. Tyler
OF This City, Narrowly Escupe
the Flames

A special to the New York World from
Aiahtic City yesterday says: Little Phil
Hichborn, 5r., the twelve-year-old son of
captain Philip Hichborn. chief naval con-
structor of the United States navy. was
setting Off frecrackers this morning near
mis- fathers handsome cottage at Brigan-
tine Beach. How 1t happened no one can
tell, but spark few into an upper window
ana soon the entire garnet floor, built of
yellow pine and infiammable as pitch, was
in flames.
Clara Morris. coIored maid, discovered
the fire. Her first thought was for her
young mistress, Miss Martha Hichborn.
and her guest. Miss Marguerite Tyler of
Washington, d. c. She knew that thew
were sitting on the upper piazza, and ran
upstairs and tried to get to them, but a
triple wall of fire and smoke and closed
doors barred her way.
Frantic Appeal for Aid.
She could hear the frantic voices of the
young women as they appealed for aid
and she mingled her cries with theirs.
hut she could not get to them. nor they
to her. The other servants got out with
out difficulty.
Meanwhile the alarm had spread through
the little seaside city, and the wild ring
ing of the town bell notified the inhabitants
of the fire. Every able-boded man was
soon at the scene, for fire at the seashore
IS the most dreaded enemy.
There was no apparatus in the place,
but a bucket brigade was formed and be-
gan passing water up from the ocean. The
holder spirits first turned their attention
to the work of rescuirg the imperilled
women.
Charles Harris led the way. Tossing
blanket over his head the young volun-
teer mounted the stairs and rushed through
the smoke and heat to the piazza in front,
where the frightened women were COVER
ing. Nothing but a stiff sea breeze fan
ming the flames toward the northwest pre-
vented them from being killed. But even
as it was there was no time to be lost.
Gave Her Guest Preference
Harris was about to seize Miss HIGH
born when she mutely motioned toward
her guest. So he picked up Miss Tyler,
fainting and helpless with terror, and rush
ed with her through the house and down
the stairs. He did not pause there but
returned and carried Miss Hichborn to
safety. Then he Succunbed himself and
1t was found that his hands had been
terribly burned in the performance of his
heroic work. He was treated by DIR. Arm
strong, who did not think his injuries dan
gerous.
The sea breeze was working mischief
1t drove a shower of sparks toward the
cottage of United States Senator Mitchell
of Wisconsin, which is now occupied by
Washington friends of the Senator and
soon that splendid seaside palace was on
fire. At the same time the cottage Of
Captain James Holdzkom and the Brigan-
tine House where Senator Quay goes for
rest and recreation, We're discovered to be
on fire.
The firemen stopped work on the original
pile and left it to its fate as they turned
to prevent the fire from spreading. 1t was
a sharp fight, but the firemen won, and
the houses which at one time looked as if
they would go up in smoke were saved. The
Hicnborn cottage was total loss, together
with most of the outbuildingS surrounding
it. Most of the valuable furniture was
taken out by the volunteers before the
fire reached it, and, of course, was saved.
|. Col. HfchbOrn Was Away.
Colonel Hichborn had not arrived at his
summer home, and Mrs. Hichborn had gone
to Atlantic City for the day. The cottage
was in the hands of servants. The loss is
fully covered by insurance.