New-York tribune., 1901-01-06

was built about twenty years ago. II resembled
a large Norman chateau and was surrounded
by piazzas overlooking the Sound. Part Of the
building was in the village OF Pelham Manor,
and the rest IN New Rochelle. 1t was three
story frame structure with many towers gables
and tall chimneys. A few years ago, when the
village Of Pelham Manor declared for no license,
the nernbers Of the club found it convenient TO
comply with the law by moving the bar. which
IN the west part Of the building, over to
the eastern end. which was in New-Rochelle.
The fire started at 12:4o o'clock from an elec-
trie wire in the basement. directly under the
main hallway. II was discovered by car
penter who had been working on the roof. He
was going out TO dinner when he saw
flames and smoke pouring from one OF the
basement windows. The man ran over 20 the
Potter house, where Steward James Kerwin
and the fifteen men employed about the club
house were az dinner. and gave the alarm. The
Aanaes spread quickly. BY the time Kerwin
and his assistants reached the building the
flames were bursting through the windows OF
the irst Aoor, and il was evident that the entire
building, which was Of light, infiammable ma
teT!al, would be destroyed The steward set his
men 10 work connecting hose with a hydrant
the telephone in the smaller house and gave
the alarm TO the Pelham Manor and New
Rochelle FIRE departments. He also called UP
the city home Of the club and told Major George
". Rand. the manager. that the Travers Island
establishment was on fire. Major Rand set out
al for Pelham Manor.
IL happened that Chief Mayhem W. Bronson
OF the Larchmont Fire Department in the
New-York clubhouse at the time. He accom-
panied Major Rand to the fire. While they were
waiting at MISUNDERSTANDING -ninth-st.
for train, Mr.. Bronson telephOned TO the
Lsrchmont Yacht Club for his TO join
him at Pelham Manor, and also TO his valet TO
bring his fire wagon uniform and trumpet
When Major Rand and Chief Bronson reached
the clubhouse, at l:o4 o'clock, they found that
four companies from that city and one from
Pelham Manor. but that they had been unable to
90 anything except save the Potter house, owing
70 the scarcity Of water. A number of Larch-
mont freEnen We're also az the burning building.
They had received the alarm at the yacht club
and gone down in automobiles.
il took about hour for the large clubhouse
70 burn Owing to the intensity of the flames
and the suffocating smoke. nothing in il was
many pictures, trophies mounted animals. works
OF art and about $500 worth Of silverware
were destroyed. The entire collection Of Indian
relics given 10 the club by Buffalo Bill went UP
tootFace in the Olympian games The wine cell
lar was well stocked with wines. liquors and
cigars. The popping OF hundreds Of champagne
bottles could be heard amid the roar and crack
ling Of the flames.
The smoke was so dense that several Of the
New-ROcheile fremen were overcome. One or
them. Asa Dobbs, had to be carried to the
water front and revived. Charles Kistinger, a
member OF the Relief Company. of New-Ro-
enelle had his head cut, and three OF his COM
nanIons barely escaped death by the falling Of
q large piazza. Scores Of clubrnen and golfers
who live in the neighborhood Joined with the
frenen.
By o'clock the Potter house saved, but
only the tall chimneys and stone tower Of the
once beautiful clubhouse were left standing
The fire attracted a large number OF the people
Who live along the Sound. They went IN car
Fiages and automobiles. Several hundred Of
them including many women, visited the club
grounds In the afternoon Among them were
- Oliver Iseiin, with his wife and daughter;
e T. GillianG, Of Pelham Manor; r. c. Fellows
John Nelson, ii. Il. PaysOn and c. N. Hamilton.
The grounds were put in charge of Chief Bron-
son, of Larchmont, who is member of the
club and were guarded after the fire by the
New-Rochelle policemen and several mounted
ren from The Bronx.
This is the second fire the club has had at its
home in Pelham Manor.