New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-18
THREE HOTELS BT RNED.
DISASTROUS FIRE AT HAMMELS STA
TION. ROCKAWAY.

,rbreo NJ the largest hotels at Hammers Station.
Rockaway. were destroyed by fire early yesterday
morning The flames were kept from adjoining cot
tages and buildings by hard work on the part CT
the fremen who were hampered by lack OF water
pressure.
The fire was the largest Rockaway has had In a
number Of years. For a time 1t looked as II 1t
would spread and rival In extent the nre which a
few years ago swept away almost all OF the seaside
part Of the beach. Fortunately the wind was not
high and what there was Of II was blowing In a
direction which did not force the fire toward the
adjoining buildings.
The fire started. as nearly as can he learned In
or near the kitchen OF the Phillips Pavilion. The
flames were first noted by policeman on patrol
about 3 o'clock and then in possession OF the
kitchen and the part OF the hotel Immediately ad-
ioinng. An alarm turned in. and the entire
fire fighting force OF the beach was called TO the
scene The flames had firm hold on the hotel by
the time the tlrrmen arrived. and within a few
minutes they had spread TO the Grobe Mertens and
Mansch hotels adjoining.
chief Dasb5y. when that the three big
frame structures doomed concentrated all HIS
ana also summoned the fremen from Far Rock
away who responded and aided in holding the
The water pressure was poor, and this hampered
p qe e me amt it is said might have BEEN
mastered before they reached the two hotels which
caught from the pavilion.
St Marys Home is close to the FIRE and when It
seemed that the flames might reach the building
aroused after the fire broke out, and were held
In readiness TO get out. The remen kept the build
ing from catching. and later the children returned
their beds.
The season being over. the hotels were almost
empty and the people In them escaped without
trouble In her fright Mrs. Phillips forgot her
jewelry. and It was DESTROYED. She says the lost
iewelry was worth SLIGO The ruins were wetted
down yesterday, and search is being made for the
diamonds.
Soon after the FIRE broke out George LANDER
fireman. working the roof OF Phpss Pa
viion and fell from II to the ground. He sustained
a compound fracture OF the right arm and was Sc
verely injured internally He may die. Charles
Frey. another fireman. fell from the roof and
sustained a bad scalp wound and a bad cash In the
left side and had one OF his ankles badly spralned
The fire burned out quickly. and In less than two
hours after the flames broke out the danger was
The fire burned over an area OF about two
The loss I mated at about 5000 The Hol-
land estat ~ ID the Phillips Pavilion The loss
on this is W TO be $4,000. Louis Phillips the
lessee OWncd the furniture and everything I'm the
building. He estimates his loss at about $1,000
Grobe Mertens's loss Is estimated by him al s25 coo
OF which t5C0I f. on the building and the remainder
the contents. Mrs. T. Smith. owner OF Mansch =
Hotel. loses about $4,000 building and contents
The destruction OF walks. booths and outbuildl ngs
about the hotels will add to the loss The Insurance
Is said 10 have been about $50 900 The cause OF the
fire Is not known.