Evening journal., 1902-04-04
,OLDIERS GUARD
FIRE RUINS
WO Blocks Of Hotels and
Shops Are LeVCIed
Joss WILL EXCEED $75O,OOO
Though There We're Many Narrow
Escapes, No Lives We're Lost in
The Atlantic City Fire
|OSS WILL EXCEED $75O,OOO

Atlantic City. N. j., April 4.-Twelve
)tels and more than a score of small
iildings adjoining the boardwalk,
hich is built along the ocean edge.
ere destroyed yesterday by a fire
hich swept the beach front for two
ing blocks, from Illinois avenue to
ew York avenue. The loss, it Is be-
eyed, will exceed S750,OO0. In this
spect the conflagration is the most
DISASTROUS that has ever visited this
'lty. The loss will be only partly COW
red by Insurance, as the rate of
er cent. charged by insurance com
|anies on property is regarded as al
lost prohibtive. Fortunately no lives
'ere sacrificed, though probably a
Oxen persons were slightly injured
nd burned during the progress of
ne fire. The origin Of the fire is un-
nown, but is said to have started in
ither Brady's baths or the TarltOn
otel. which adjOins the baths at ILL
ois avenue and the boardwalk. The
4 ity last night was guarded by a COM
any Of militia, who were requested
the municipal authorities to aid the
olice in the prevention of looting
bout a dozen men were arrested dur
/ ng the day for robbery.
The hotels destroyed are: The
.uray and annex, the New Holland,
itratford, Berkley, Bryn Mawr, Stick
.ey Evard. Rio Grande Mervine,
academy Hotel and Academy of Mu-
ic, Windsor (partly destroyed and
'arlton. Charles Keeler, who con-
ucted drug store on the boardwalk
Kentucky avenue, estimates his
1 oss at $G0,00O,and Victor Freisinger,
'roprietor of an art store, $4,000.
other victims whose losses range
rom $4,000 to $4,000 are: James A.
BRADY, bath house; David John, drug
/ list; Nabass d Kazarr, Oriental
goods; Haines, florist; Shimamura &
Co.. Japanese novelties; Ching Hop
ling. Chinese novelties; John II.
glett, art store; Partridge & Richard
son. millinery and dry goods; Won
EMS Exchange; e. P. Quinn, hair
lresser; NJ. Meyer & Bro, jewelry
and Richard Binder, barber.
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 OF
entirely destroyed.
CITY Threatened With Destruction.
The fire was discovered shortly af
ter Q 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 alonl
the beach front with amazing rapidity
The Tarlton hotel was soon a pile o
smouldering debris, and the fiame
fed on the small stores and booths be
tween Illinois and Kentucky avenues
until they reached the Stratford hotel
which was soon enveloped. The fer,
tongues leaped to the Berkeley ad
joining. and in a few minutes the NeV
Holland, the Bryn Mawr, the Evarr
and the Stickney, all located on ker
tucky avenue. near the beach, wer
doomed. The local fire department
worked well and willingly, but wa
unable to cope with the flames, an
It was found necessary to send I
Philadelphia and Camden for aid. Tn
former city sent three engines an
two came down from Camden It wa
not until an hour after their arrive
that the fire could be said to be tho
oughly under control.
Just as the special train bearing tn
Philadelphia firemen arrived a burr
ing brand set fire to the centre {
Youngs Pier, near Tennessee avenU
Meantime the flames had communica
ed with the Rio Grande, the MerviT
and the Academy hotels and the Aca
envy of Music, at the corner of Ne
York avenue and the beach. For
few minutes Young's Pier burnt
fiercely, but the firemen succeeded
confning the flames to Marine Ha
which is situated in the centre of q
nloI HIS nlAuNAuAO Wee ~-~-- -
destroyed. bisecting the pier.
Guests Wildly Excited.
During the progress of the fire Il
widest excitement prevailed amol
the guests Of the hotels which lat
became a prey to the flames. Wi
the exception of the Tarlton and G
Bryn Mawr, all of the hostelries we
open for the season, and most Of the
we're fairly we'll filled. In most cas-
the guests had sufficient time to pa
their trunks and grips, and those W
did not do this carried their person
effects to places of safety in the b'
manner possible under the circu
stances. The beach appeared to
the most suitable depository, a
many nondescript heaps of clothii
hoadtoe and furniture appeared