Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-04-04
DOZEN SHORE HOTELS BURN
Seaside Hostelries Destroyed by Flames
Sweeping Atlantic City Beach.
SCORE OF OTHER BUILDINGS ALSO GONE
Firemen GO from Philadelphia and
Camden to Help Local Depart
ment Fight the stubborn
COnhaGratiOn.

buildings adjoining Board Walk which is
built along the ocean edge, were destroyed
today by a fire which swept the beach
front for two long blocks. from Illinois
avenue to New York avenue. The loss, it
is believed, will be S75O.OO0.
In this respect the connagration is the
most disastrous that has ever visited this
city. The loss will be only partially COW
cred by insurance, as the rate of per
cent, charged by insurance companies on
property here, is regarded as almost pro-
hibitive.
Fortunately no lives we're sacrificed
though probably a dozen persons were
slightly injured and burned during the
progress of the Are II was reported early
in the afternoon that six men had perished
in the flames, but the rumor was without
foundation.
The origin of the fire is unknown but It
is believed to have started in Brady's
baths or the Tarleton hotel, which adjoins
the baths at Illinois avenue and Board
Walk
Militia Guards the City.
The city tonight is guarded by company
of militia, who were requested by the
municipal authorities to aid the police in
the prevention of looting. About a dozen
men were arrested during the day for rob-
berry.
The hotels destroyed and their estimated
losses are:
The Louray and annex. the latter formerly
known the Norwood, owned by J. s.
White G. Son, 1925, 900; the New Holland.
Mrs. NJ. ]. Lee, $4,000; stratford, Arnold
w. Waldner, 100000 Berkeley, Bew Bros,
$50 900; Bryn Mawr, j. and E. Keffer, $685.
600; Stickney, Mrs. L. V. Stickney, $20,O00i
Evard, James T. German, $4,000; Rio
Grande, ]. P. Fitzpatrick, $30,O00s Mervine,
]. Eels, $40, 900; Academy hotel and Acad-
emy Of Music Charles Fralinger, ,000i
Windsor, G. Jason Waters (partly de-
stroyed), $4,000.
Charles ]. Keeler, who conducted a drug
store on Board Walk at Kentucky avenue,
estimates his loss at 100000, and Victor
Freisnger, proprietor OF an art store at
st. James Place and Board Walk, says his
loss is $50, 900.
Among Minor Loses.
other victims whose losses range from
IS, 900 to $4,000 are: James A. Brady,
bath house; David John, druggist; Nabass
G. Kazaar, Oriental goods; Haines, florist
Shimamura Co., Japanese novelties;
Ching Hop Ching, Chinese novelties; John
H. Flett, art store; Partridge & Richard
son, millinery and dry goods; Woman's
exchange, e. P. Quinn. hair dresser NJ.
Meyer q Bro, jeweiry; Richard Binder,
barber.
In addition to the foregoing there were
numerous other smaller booths and several
cottages on minor thoroughfares in the
rear Of Board Walk which were either par
TALLY or entirely destroyed.
The fire was discovered shortly after
o'clock this morning and for nearly FIVE
he a., Ill.
as to threaten the city with destruction.
All of the burned buildings were frame
structures and the flames, famed by a
strong west wind, swept along the beach
front with amazing rapidity.
Works with Rapidly.
The Tarlton hotel was soon a pile of
smoudering debris and the flames fed on
the small stores and booths between nli-
nois and Kentucky avenue until they
reached the Stratford hotel, which was soon
enveloped. The fiery tongues leaped TO the
Berkeley adjoining, and in a 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 we'll
and willingly, but was unable to cope with
the flames and IL was found necessary to
send to Philadelphia and Camden for aid.
The former city sent three engines and
two came down from Camden. The engines
were brought here on two special trains
furnished by the Pennsylvania railroad
and they made the run of nearly sixty miles
in ffty-fve minutes. Their presence here
was of vast assistance to the local fire.
men, but it was not until an hour after
their arrival the fire could be said to be
thoroughly under control.
Engines Arrive in Good Time.
Just as the special train bearing the
Philadelphia fremen arrived a burning
brand set fire to the center of Young's pier
near Tennessee avenue. Meantime the
flames had communicated with the Rio
Grande, the Meryine and the Academy
hotels and the Academy OF Music at the
corner of New York avenue and the beach.
For a few minutes Young's pier burned
fercely, but the firemen succeeded In con-
fning the flames to Marine hall, which was
situated in the center of the pier. This
structure was entirely destroyed, bisecting
the pier.
During the progress Of the fire the wild
est excitement prevailed among the guests
of the hotels, which later became prey to
the flames. With the exception Of the Tarle-
ton and the Bryn Mawr all OF the hostel
ries were open for the season and most OF
them were fairly well 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 10
places of safety in the best manner pos
sible under the circumstances.
Volunteer FIremen as Police.
The members OF the volunteer fire de-
partment acted as special policemen and
Company L, National Guard OF New Jersey.
was called into requisition TO preserve or
der.
Strenuous efforts were made by the fire.
men to prevent the destruction of the
Windsor hotel, which was the last to take
FIRE The wind had been favorable TO the
fremen. but at 1870 o'clock the wing OF
the Windsor nearest the blazing structures
began to burn and in the course of half
hour had been consumed.
The flames, however, were confined TO
this section Of the building. though the
main portion OF the hotel is badly dam
aged by smoke and water.
Nothing is left OF Board Walk from Ini-
nois avenue to a point within few feet OF
Young's pier but the iron supporters. This
is the portion OF the walk that was mostly