New-York tribune., 1901-08-12
eIxTH AVENUE, 10Th TO 21ST STREET.
LONG BEACH HOTEL 4 URECh
THE BOILER EXPLODEs AND THROWS
GUESTS INTO A PANIC.
DAMAGE Is so SEVERE THAT THE PLACE Is
CLOSED FOR THE SEAsON-oNE
MAN SLIGHTLY HURT


Long Beach Long Island Aug. 1.-THE DIE
boiler in the basement of the Long Beach Hotel
exploded at : o'clock this morning causing 50
great a wreck at one end Of the hotel that the
season was brought to an end for this summer
and the guests were sent away. No person was
hurt severely. but some employees had narrow
escapes The guests. seven hundred OF 'heIh'
fed from their rooms in panic TO the corridors
and stairvays and many men. women and chi-
dren continued their fight 10 the Office None
of them waited 10 dress. and all were clad in
their night apparel and carried a few pieces OF
clothing and vauables that they snatched IN
their haste.
The boiler was situated under the kitchen in
the basement It used for manifold puF-
po7es as IT supplied the hot water IN the
various rooms Of the hotel. power for running
the elevator. steam for tn steam tables and
dozen other things What caused the explosion
has not been fully explained. but II is supposed
the safety cock became clogged and steam gen
Grated TOO fast so that the boiler gave way
The boiler. instead Of breaking into many
parts simply blew UP in one big piece TINS
nieca ~ steel Weighing about ten tons. went
inward and toward the west wall II tore n big
hole in the hoor OF the kitchen and continued
its inward course across the kitchen and few
o,or the heads Of eight scrubwomen who had
The mass Of steel then passed through paru-
ton which divided the kitchen and struck the
main chimney in the west wall and demolished
the fues and dropped down upon the ranges
shattering them 10 small pieces.
In rs course Of flight the piece ~ steel broke
practically every gas. water and steam pipe in
the hotel and left the varols pipes mass Of
wreckage It also wrecked all the ranges and.
besides this ruined the fues Of the chimney. so
that the chimney Will have 70 he rebuilt as II is
thought the shock knocked the chimney out ot
plumb.
The shock was felt in every part or the big
hotel but especially in the servants quarters
which adioin the kitchen. Tn, occupants rushed
downstairs ana out Of the building onto the
beach. The guests in more distant parts Of the
big hotel almost equally alarmed. their
rooms rocked as II the hotel being shaken
by earthquake. Every one leaped from bed
TO find the floors still trembling and the windows
| rattling The explosion was accompanied by a
detonation which awakened those whom the
| rocking did not disturb There was an immedi-
ate rush for the doors to get out hut the hotel
| night force. which still on duty and was
| about TO he relieved. kept their heads and see
ing that all immediate danger was over. al
| though they did not realize what had happened
| succeeded in quieting most Of the guests. Those
who yielded to the words Of the employees went
back to their rooms to dress. but the more ex-
citable rushed down the stairways 10 the office
| which, inside Of two minutes filled with ex-
cited persons most of them being women and
| all Of them in their night dresses Colonel Dick
| the proprietor Of the hotel. was on the scene
soon and he and the clerks urged the excited
women to return to their rooms one woman
| tainted and several were hysterical
There was no further sleep in the hotel and
| guests wherever they were. the house servants
| carrying it to rooms. parlors and verandas This
helped, in a great measure. to bring about some
assurance Of safety. and little later a make
shift breakfast was served.
After the first fright the guests made light Of
| the affair. and many of them grumbled when
later in the morning Colonel Dick announced
that it would be impossible for them to remain
| and that the hotel would have to close The
| damage was such that it could not possibly be
| repaired within six weeks. and even makeshft
repairs would not answer. Many Of the guests
wanted Colonel Dick to allow them to retain
their rooms, and wished him to run up a tenn
porary kitchen outside. but Colonel Dick decided
that the absence of steam would so hamper
everything it would be best to close. Accord
| ingly, most Of the guests went away on special
train. Those who remain will sleep for a few
nights at the Long Beach Hotel, and take their
meals at Long Beach Inn.
The only person hurt was a fireman. who was
on duty. He not scalded. but was hit by
piece of a beam, which broken loose by
| the upward flight OF the piece of the boiler His
injury amounted to little more than a scratch
| The eight scrub women who were In the kitchen
and missed death by but a few inches had net
recovered from their fright this evening. and
can give clear account of their sensations
| They insist upon being sent away at once and
will be sent in the morning, will all but the
most trusted servants. who will remain 10 close
the big hotel and put IL In shape for the winter
The loss by the explosion will be heavy
Colonel Dick had the hotel accommoda tions
practically all engaged until the middle of Sep
| tember. 1t proving the most profitable sea
son the hotel has had. Besides his loss the loss
| and expense 10 the Long Beach Hotel Associa-
tion will be heavy The receiver for the associa-
tion estimated to-day that the explosion would
! involve an actual cash outlay of S30000 Be
sides this II loses the rent for the remainder of
the season The boiler could be replaced and
the damage repaired for much less money than
the receivers estimate but he decided that there
should be chance for a similar accident.
To attain this he will cause 10 be erected large
| boiler house at some distance from the hotel.
with a subway for pipes This will obviate the
| danger of explosion injuring the main build
ing Besides this in place OF depending on one
! large boiler, he will cause the installation of