Milford chronicle., 1902-04-11
TWELVE HOTELSBURNED
Atlantic Oity's Ocean Front Swept
by Fierce Fire.
THE LOSS WILL EXCEED $4,000

Atlantic City, N. J., April 4.-Twelve |
hotels and more than a score of small |
buildings adjoining the boardwalk.
which is built along the ocean edge.
were 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 $750,00O In this |
respect the confagration is the most |
disastrous that has ever visited this
city. The loss will be only partly COW
cred by insurance, as the rate of 8 !
per cent. charged by insurance COM
panies on property is regarded as al
most prohibitive. Fortunately no lives
were sacrificed, though probably a
dozen persons were slightly injured
and burned during the progress of
the 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 nli-
nois avenue and the boardwalk. The
city last night was guarded by a COM
pany Of militia, who were requested
by the municipal authorities to aid the
police in the prevention of looting.
The hotels destroyed are: The
Luray and annex, the New Holland,
Stratford, Berkeley, Bryn Mawr, Stick
ney, Evard, Rio Grande, Mervine,
Academy Hotel and Academy of Mu-
sic, Windsor (partly destroyed) and
Tarlton. Charles Keller, who con-
Quoted a drug store on the boardwalk
at Kentucky avenue, estimates his
loss at $60.OOO,and Victor Freisinger,
proprietor of an art store, $4,000.
In addition to the foregoing there
were 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 af-
ter 8 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 a
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 and 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 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 well and willingly, but was
unable to cOpe4with the flames, and
it was found necessary to send to
Philadelphia and Camden for aid. The
former city sent three engines and
two came down from Camden. It 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 YOungs Pier burned
| fiercely, but the firemen succeeded in
! combining the flames to Marine Hail.
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 fire the
widest excitement prevailed among
the guests of the hotels which later
became a prey to the flames. With
the exception of the Tarlton and the
I Bryn Mawr, all of the hostelries 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 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 vigil
lance necessary on the part of the
police. The members of the volunteer
fire department acted as special po-
licemen, and Company L, National
Guard of New Jersey, was called into
requisition to preserve order.
Strenuous efforts we're made by the
firemen 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 a 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.
L. 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 ana Lne Dehcui
were in grave danger when the con-
, hagration was at its height. The en-
ployes of both houses played streams
Of water upon the buildings from all
sides, and in this way doubtless pre-
vented the further spread Of the
flames.
/ Consumption Caused Suicide.
/ Baltimore. Md, April 9.-Despon
2 dent because he was a consumptive
} Frank Fay crept under the trestle Of
r the street railway on North street yes
' terday and ended his life with {
4 draught of carbolic acid. Fay wal
D formerly an electrician, but Ill healtl
3 forced him to give up regular EN-
: ployment some time ago, and recent!
) he began to grow respondent, because
various doctors told him nothing coul(
y be done to check the ravages Of thu
t disease.
+ GlasshloWers Strike.
{ BridgetOn, N. j., April 9.-MOst o