The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-08
GARDEN CITY HOTEL FIRE.
BURNING OF HANDSOME HOUSE
BUILT BIZ 4. 4. STEWART

BUILT BIZ a. 4. STEWART
Guests and Servants All Got Out without
Injury. tho Former saving Their Prop
srty-Thieves Busy When the Wine Gel
lar Was Opened-History of the Hotel.
The Garden City Hotel. In Garden City. L. l..
was burned Yesterday morning. Thousands
OF persons witnessed the destruction OF the
building. and FIRE departments from four or
five adjoining villages fought the flames.
Owing to tho fact that the season for this hotel
was Just opening, not moro than nifty guests
were In II.
The nre was first seen In the top story OF the
northeast wing at about 1880 O'Clock. 1t crept
along under the shingled munsard roof, and
soon the upper portion Of the structure was
all aflre. There was scarcely any wind blow
ing and the further spread OF the flames was
slow. There 10 an ample water supply In
Garden City. and when IL became evident
that the local Fire Department was un-
able to cope with the nre George Hubbel.
manager OF tho Garden City Company. which
| owned the hotel. sent to nearby villages for
help. The IRE department OF Mineola. Hemp
stead. Hyde Park. Jamaica and East Williston
responded. Each company when It arrived
was accompanied by several hundred villagers
Despite tho achievements. It was IL O'Clock
before the flames were under control. and then
the building was practically In ruins. All the
upper stories had been burned out and the
lower floors were ruined BY falling debris and
| flooded with water. The lawns and drivos
| around the hotel were piled high with furni-
ture. trunks and bedding. while the guests
stood about on tho grass and watched the dis
| truction OF the hotel.
When hope Of saving tho building was aban.
doned trucks were hired to cart away the fur
| niture and other movable articles that could be
saved. The wine cellar was in the basement OF
tho west wing. the last corner reached by tho
flames When teams were sent to carry the
| wine away some OF the spectators took advan-
| tage OF the opening OF the cellar to loot the
place. Farm hands. boys and negroes were
making free with the wine and 1t looked at
one time as II the rowdy element would get
| the upper hand. Manager Hubbel got a force
| OF mon TO clear out the intruders. Some OF the
| spectators were caught leaving the grounds
with bottles OF wine hidden under their coats.
The winN was taken away from Thorn and
| they were driven off, Other petty thieving and
! looting was going on at different places
| on the ground. Finally Deputy Sheriff Henry
| W. Skinner of Nassau County appeared on
! the grounds and a number OF men were de-
| tailed to guard the property Two persons
| caught carrying away bottles OF wine and arti-
Giles OF small value were arrested and arralgned
before Justice Cuttings. The Court suspended
| sentence In each case ana the cuipriIs Were
warned TO keep away from the grounds
| during the progress OF the names many
amateur PHOTOGRAPHERS took snap shots at the
blazing structure ana even some OF the guests
on recovering from their SURPRISE at thelr SUD
den "]ectment from the building hunted up
cameras ana Joined the KODAK party. Some OF
tho persons who were living at the hotel took
shelter with families living nearby" but
majority came TO this city.
Inc motel was oricE orl'ding Tour stories
| high. twas OF colonial style OF archltec-
ture The orisinal hotel was erected by A. i.
stewart In 1911. when no contemplated FOUND
ing an arIstocratic colony In Garden CITY. Ihis
building was OF prick. Tour stories h'Gh anu
faced Park avenue. IL had frontage OF not
more than loo teet and was ABOUT oo rect In
depth. Three years ago TWO DIE wings were
added making the ouilding IN all ABOUT Zoo
feet long by 9o teet in depth. Inc motel pniit
by Mr. stewart occupied the centre ana rows
OF white pillars that ran along tho 'front.' DO.
tween tho Two Wings gave IL the appearanee Oh
an Ola. time mansion. PARK OF tnir.y acres
'heiuuink '"o o"ruon o''' so'i hnA' 'u'
rounoeo H.
Miohaei hlee' one OF the heAo waters as
ooVereo inc nre anu immeoia'eiy 'ounaeo an
| aarm' oierk o.: D. Meecnaln VINO was III peu'
| put On ms eio.nins III ha''o auu ""'e Da'
C'erK oharies ~ helss was Senoihs ou' .ns
nre alarm Heechati 'naue 'out y, th1 en'n