The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-18
FIRE AT ROCKAWAY BEACH.
TWO AND HALF BLOCKS BURNED
Att HOLLANDS STATION.

Phillips Hotel and Mohrtsn's Hotels and
Pavilions and Mansch's Hotel Gone,
EIdert's Pavilion scorehsd and Home
for Crippled Children Was Threatened.
Two and q half blocks OF summer hotels.
bathing pavilions. dancing pavilions. seaside
theatres and conglomeration OF small build
inRs were destroyed by nre on the ocean front
at Hollands Station. Rockaway Beach. early
yesterday morning. During the fire two men
were badly injured by leapinR from a blazing
roof while the flremen were rendered almost
helpless by the bursting OF rotten hose. An
exciting incident OF the two and half hours
blaze was the carrying OF one hundred and
forty crippled children from st. Mary's Homo
for Crippled Children, In lite course the fire
swept from Hollands avenue along Ocean ave.
nue and was finally brought to stop whom 1t
had burned out half the block between Ooe-
anus and Eldsrt avenue. 1t lie estimated that
the loss will amount to more than 100000.
The barking OF a dog aroused the cottaRers
near Phillips's hotel Those who poked their
heads out OF the windows saw bright jets OF
flame flashing over the line Of the hotels along
Ocean avenue. Fire bells were set clamorins.
and In few minutes the seaside population
was chasing about half dressed In Q frsntio
effort to put out the fire. In twenty minutes
after the alarm was sounded Phillips's hotel.
bathing pavilion. dancing pavilion and sea-
side theatre were on ere from end to end. The
buildings took up a full block.
From Phiipss place the fre swept across
Oceanus avenue and Grobe Mehrten's hotel
and pavilions which occupied almost q full
block were added to tho oonhaeration. Whom
the fire reached this point the wind veered
little more to the south. and the flames from
Mshrten's place were carried across Bayview
49, II A..t
ings which covered about half block took
are. No1t to Mansch's place was Elderts
pavilion and the building adjoining Elderts
place 10 the Home for Crippled Children.
1t was at Ederts pavilion that the hremen
made stand. While the pavilion was scorohed
and charred the Are was held at bay. and the
Home was saved. But while the nremen sta
toned at Eldert's pavilion were having Q
hard fight. another set Of hremen stationed at
the rear OF the burning buildings we're having
q lively battle to prevent tho flames from
reaching the cottages that extend along the
avenues leading to the railroad depot.
During the height OF the fire George L. Lam
BERT 81 years old. 4 member OF Volunteer
Hose No. q. and Charles p Frey. - years old,
a Nom Der OF Ooesnus Hook and Ladder Com
pany. were on top OF a pavilion at Phillips
place when the whole structure beneath them
suddenly ignited. A rush OF flame and smoke
shot up through the roof and both men either
fell or jumped of the roof to the board walk.
. distance OF about twenty feet Lambert was
picked up unconscious and taken to his
hotel in the Boulevard at Hollands avenue.
He received compound fracture Of the right
elbow. had his head badly cut and II 10 feared
that no has sustained serious internal injuries.
Frey injured his right knee and left wrist and
was otherwise hurt. He 10 also hotel keeper
and was taken to his place in Hollands avenue.
Police Sergeant James II. Wheelwright
hustled the reserves from the ub-preoinot at
Rockaway Beach to the soene OF the hre while
he sent word to Far Rookaway for help and
Chief Charles Haffner with several Far Rooka-
way companies responded. Whom the Ere
threatened the Home for Crippled Children.
Sister Delrosa. who has charge OF the
home aroused the children and when
word was given to clear the build
ing the children were all about ready 70 leave.
1t was necessary to carry out each child.
Honsck's Hotel on tho Boulevard was thrown
open and all the children were removed there
until after the fire whom they were taken back.
Although Rookaway Beach lie included
within the limits OF Greater New York. all tho
fire protection 1t gets 10 from the volunteer
DOM panies.
The buildings destroyed all belonged to the
Holland estate save that occupied by Phillip
Mansch. which was owned by Annie Smith Of
Rockawny Beach. Phillips and Mehrlsns each
estimate their loss at about $15 900. while
Mansch's loss 10 said to DO between $1,000 and
$4,000. The loss on tho buildinEs will
amount 10 something over $4,000. A plano
was about the only article OF value that was
saved. Thousands OF sightseers visited the
scene OF the fire yesterday.