Evening star., 1902-04-04
WITNESSED THE BIG, FIRE.
Washingtonians and Others Who Were
in Atlantic CITY Yesterday.

AS usual during the week following Eas-
ter quite number Of Washingtonans are
at Atlantic City. So far as known none of
the national capital contingent was stay
ing at any of the hotels that were destroyed
by yesterdays cOnfiagration. Mrs. l.. q.
Letter of 1900 New Hampshire avenue and
Mr.. Joseph Letter are at the Brighton.
Others from Washington at Atlantic City
are: Mrs. Henry Kemp, Mr. and Mrs. g.
T. G. Morsell of 921 M street northwest,
Mr.. and Mrs Frank Madigan Of 1905 Vir-
ginia avenue Mrs Ida Fucker Mrs. Martin
Mayer and Mrs. Donald Williamson of HOG
9th street northwest.
Mr. Talbot Loses Baggage.
Mr. E. H. Talbot Of New York, formerly
Of 200 9th street southeast this city, and
Mrs. Talbot were staying at the Hotel
Luray, Atlantic City, when yesterdays
fire destroyed so much Of the famous sum-
mer resort. They came direct to Wash
ington and will remain here until the first
of the coming week.
I'VE lost considerable of our baggage
and personal Effects Mr.. Talbot said to
an Evening Star reporter this afternoon
within ten minutes, surely not more than
fifteen minutes, after the fire started, the
Luray was doomed. Under the circum-
stances the guests Of the hotel behaved
nobly. There was little undue excitement.
Many of the guests lost everything they
in the town after the fire was over and
there was a general exodus of hotel guests
to Philadelphia, New York and other cities.
Until the arrival Of the fire engines from
Philadelphia 1t looked as If the whole hotel
district would be wiped out. The board
walk was burned from Illinois avenue to
Young's pier. The heat was great even
on the side from which the wind came that
1t was next to impossible to get within a
couple of hundred feet Of the burning
buildings
"Young's pier was burned excepting the
central portion. number Of persons were
caught and hemmed In on the outer end of
the pier and were rescued and brought to
shore in boats. Marvellous was the strength
displayed by some OF the women guests.
ease to places Of safety. Mr.. William Du-
bois who was for a number of years chief
usher at the White House, was at the -Lu-
ray. and assisted In getting out a number
of the guests.
Representative Joel P. Heatwole Of Mime
sofa arrived from Atlantic City last even
ing. Mrs: T. b: Nichols OF al and daughter and
were also arrivals from the famous coast
resort They were burned out In the fire.
Mr.. Peterh A. sandholm. Chicago COM
mercial traveller. who witnessed the conf1a-
grafton, is at the, New Willard. Mr. Sand
holm stated that the fire was the greatest
sight he ever witnessed. He was stopping
at the Windsor. where, according to first
report, the fire originated. He was seated
at the breakfast table with a number of
others when the first alarm Of fire, the
ringing Of bells throughout the building
was given For a time the danger was not
realized, but a. man without any collar or
tie on and with; his suspenders hanging
around his hips tore into the room yelling
"Fire!" as loud as he could. This caused a
rush for the doors by all those seated in the
room. Nosone. said Mr.. Sandholm, was al
lowed to go upstairs for anything. but all
were hustled out Of the burning hotel as
fast as possible.
Mr.. Frederick Laynan, real estate
dealer from Detroit Mich. and registered
at the Raleigh, was at Atlantic City with
his wife at the time OF the fire. Mrs Lay
man went to New York. while her. husband
came to this city. The latter stated that
the confederation was not a surprise to him.
as he had expected 1t for several years
He was in his. room, when he was startled
by loud hammering at his door, accompa-
MED with the cry Of Are" He had time
to gather together q sum of money and
made his way to the street, where he found
his wife. Together they witnessed the fire
from a distance. -s--a ->4ss,n.@
Letter From Mr.. Madigan. ;.