Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-04-12
TWELVE HOTELSBURNED
Atlantic City's Ocean Front Swept
by Fierce Fire.
THE LOSS WILL EXCEED $7so,ooo
Flames Swept Along Boardwalk, Eat
ing Up Hotels, Business Places and
Several Blocks of the Esplanade.
No Lives Were Lost.


Several Blocks Of the Esplanade.
No Lives Were Lost.
Atlantic City. N. j., April 4.-Twelve
hotels and more than score of small
buildings adjoining the boardwalk.
Which is built along the ocean edge.
we're destroyed yesterday by a fire
which swept the beach front for two
long blocks. from Illinois avenue to
New York avenue. The loss. it is be-
lieved, will exceed $750,0O0. In this
respect the confiagration is the most
disastrous that has ever visited this
city. The loss will be only partly COW
cred by insurance, as the rate OF .
per cent charged by insurance com
panies on property is regarded as al
most prohibitiye. Fortunately no lives
we're sacrificed, though probably a
iozen persons were slightly injured
and burned during the progress of
he fire. The origin OF the fire is un-
known, but is said to have started in
either Brady's baths or the Tarlton
hotel. which adjoins the baths at I'LL
nois avenue and the boardwalk. The
city last night was guarded by com
by the municipal authorities to aid the
police in the prevention of looting.
The hotels destroyed are: The
F-uray and annex, the New Holland.
Stratford. Berkeley, Bryn Mawr, Stick
1ey, Evard. Rio Grande. Mervine,
Academy Hotel and Academy of Mu-
sic. Windsor (partly destroyed and
Carlton. Charles Keller, who con-
Quoted drug store on the boardwalk
at Kentucky avenue. estimates his
loss at $4,000, and Victor Freisinger,
proprietor of an art store. $50, OOO
In addition to the foregoing there
we're numerous other smaller booths
and several cottages on minor thor
oughfares In the rear OF the board
walk which were either partially or
entirely DESTROYED.
City Threatened With Destruction.
The fire was discovered shortly az
ter o'clock yesterday morning. and
for nearly FIVE hours the flames ragged
with such violence as to threaten the
city with destruction. All of the
burned buildings were frame struc-
lures and the flames. famed by
strong southwest wind, swept along
The beach front with amazing rapidity.
The Tarlton hotel was soon a pile OF
smouldering debris. and the flames
fed on the small stores ami booths be-
tween Illinois and Kentucky avenues
until they reached the Stratford hotel,
which was soon enveloped. The fiery
tongues leaped to the Berkeley. ad.
joining. and in few minutes the New
Holland, the Bryn Mawr. the Evard
and the Stickney, all located on Ken
lucky avenue, near the beach, were
| doomed. The local fire department
worked well and willingly. but was
unable to cope with the flames. and
lit was found necessary to send to
Philadelphia and Camden for aid. The
former city sent three engines and
two came down from Camden. 1t was
not until an hour after their arrival
that the FIRE could be said to be thor
oughly under control.
Just as the special train bearing the
Philadelphia firemen arrived a burn.
ing brand set fire to the centre OF
Young's Pier, near Tennessee avenue.
Meantime the flames had communicate
ed with the Rio Grande. the Mervine
and the Academy hotels and the Acad-
envy OF Music, at the corner OF New
York avenue and the beach. For a
few minutes Young's Pier burned
fiercely, but the fremen succeeded In
combining the flames to Marine Hall.
which is situated in the centre of the
pier. This structure was entirely
destroyed, bisecting the pier.
Guests Wildly Excited.
During the progress OF the IRE the
widest excitement prevailed among
the guests of the hotels which later
became prey to the flames. With
the exception Of the Tarlton and the
Bryn Mawr, all of the hostelries were
open for the season, and most of them
were fairly we'll filled. In most cases
the guests had sufficient time to pack
their trunks and grips, and those who
did not do this carried their personal
effects to places OF safety in the best
manner possible under the circum-
stances. The beach appeared to be
The most suitable depository and
many nondescript heaps OF clothing
bedding and furniture appeared on
the sand. This rendered extra yigi.
lance necessary on the part of the
police. The members OF the volunteer
fire department acted as special no.
licemen, and Company L, National
Guard of New Jersey was called into
requisition to preserve order.
Strenuous efforts were made by the
nremen to prevent the destruction of
the Windsor Hotel, which was the last
to take FIRE. The wind had been IA
vorable to the firemen, but the wing
Of the Windsor nearest the blazing
structures began to burn, and in the
course OF half hour had been con.
sumed. The flames, however, were
confined to this section of the build.
ing. though the main portion of the
hotel is badly damaged by smoke and
water.
Nothing is left Of the boardwalk
/ from Illinois avenue to a point within
a few feet of Young's Pier but the
iron supports. This is the portion of
the walk that Is mostly used by prone
naders. The Dunlop hotel and the
Bleak House, massive brick structures
at Tennessee avenue and the beach.