Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-06-01
COMFY ISLAND FIRE.
Twenty Acres in the Summer Re-
sort Reduced to Ashes.
TWO HUNDRED BUILDINGS BURNED.
A Tornado Visits Wisconsin, Barns Picked
Tn and Scattered ArOund-Heavy Dam
age In Nebraska by Wind,
Hail and Rain.

New York, May 27.-Coney island
property to the value of S.,OOO,OOO was
destroyed by fire early yesterday morn
ing, 20 acres in the heart of the sum-
mer resort, the district known as 1.-THE
Bowery," being reduced to ashes.
The 200 buildings burned were located
between the Bowery and the ocean,
Tilyou's walk on the west and the old
iron pier on the east These buildings
ranged in size and Importance from a
wabbly bath pavilion to the handsome
tive-story Hygeia hotel, including
theaters, concert halls, dancing pavil-
ions, stores of various kinds, restau"
rants and hotels Of every grade. The
fire made shelterless for a time a
native and transient population
of about $500, including 500
men and women classed as COM
edians and soubrettes employed in the
district, and silenced no less than 100
pianos which have for years assisted in
merry-making at Conev island. twas
near three a. m. when policeman dis
covered blaze in a cottage near the
iron pier. A prompt response OF the
fire department in answer to an alarm
had this trouble disposed Of before $3.50
and the engines were about to go away
when the same policeman discovered
another fire in SchetAe's Palm pavilion
at the Tilyou's walk end Of the dis
trict. In ten minutes after the second
fire started the whole Bowery district
was in wild alarm. The thousands i'm
mediately threatened rushed out at
tired as they slept. They were quick
ly joined by the entire native and
overnight population Of the island,
some 10000, whose eager interest
hampered the fremen. 1t was seen
that the firemen had determined to
make the Bowery the. fighting line,
and then, the last hope of those south
of the Bowery that any of their houses
might be saved being gone, pell-mell
rush for salvage or plumber took place.
Scores of thieves broke through the
fire lines and entered the district from
the ocean side and their work of loot
ing was wholesale. A crowd carrying
off a piano was one sight which taught
the police what kind of crooks they
had to deal with.
A TORNADO VISITS WISCONSIN.
River Falls, Wis.,, May 27.-A tornado
struck this city shortly after six o'clock
Yesterday afternoon. 1t seemed to have
had its inception in the Fourth ward
of the city, where it reached down
from black cloud and picked up
Michael Linchan's barn, tossed it about
and landed it upside down. 1t then
passed up South Fork valley, George
T. Smiths brick yard sheds were de-
molished and considerable damage
done. A small building used for the
employees was wrecked, the inmates
seeking refuge in the cellar and escap-
ing injury. Half a mile further up the
valley, a large barn on the farm of {,
p. Burnett was scattered over half a
section of land. Maj. Burnett's barn,
across the road, was destroyed. Large
trees were twisted off or uprooted.
Several persons We're badly hart. The
cloud was fumnel-shaped, and after
moving up the valley for three miles it
began to move to the north and slowly
lifted,
HEAVY DAMAGE IN NEBRASKA.
Omaha, Neb., May 2I-A special
from Bancroft, Neb., says: A rain
storm visited this vicinity Thursday
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