Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1902-04-09
ATLANTIC CITY FIRE SWEPT
A Dozen Hotels and Over a Score oil
Small Buildings Burned.
LOSS ESTIMATED AT $75O,OOO
Aid Sent From philadelphia and Camden
in Time to Prevent Moro Serious
Spread or the E1ames-Sccnes OF Great
Confusion-Mary Looters Arrested-No
One Killed-Few Injured. -


Atlantic City. \. J.-Twelve hotels
and more than Il score of small build
ings adjoining The board walk which
is built along the ocean edge, were de-
stroyed by fire which swept the
beach front for tive long blocks from
Illinois avenue to New York avenue
The local board OF insurance under
writers, after n meeting. announced
that the total loss would not exceed
St5oO0O, and the loss to the insur-
ance companies would he about S175.-
COO. The less to the municipality in
damage to the board walk. etc. is os-
timated hy the underwriters as be-
tween $1,000 and $1,000.
Charles Fraling, proprietO. of the
Academy of Music and Il drug store
in the building said he was The heav-
lest individual loser by the fire. He
placed his loss n upward Of SlcJ. 600
and said he carried only $1,000 iusur.
ance. He was rot prepared to say
whether he would rebuild. Most OF
The fire victims expressed desire 10
rebuild as quickly as possible
In respect to the money loss the fire
is the worst that has ever visited At
lantic City. Fortunately. no lives were
sacrificed. though probably dozen
persons were slightly injured and
burned. II was reported early in The
afternoon that six men had persisted
In the flames. hut the rumor was with
out foundation.
The origin of the fire is unknown
but it is thought that it started I'm
either Brady's baths or the Hotel
Tariton. which adioins the baths mt
Illinois avenue ana the board walk
The city was placed under the guard
of company of militia. which was
asked for 10y the municipal authori-
ties to help the police in preventing
robberieS. About dozen men were
arrested for robbery
The hotels destroyed and their esti
mated losses are: The Luray and an
mex. the latter formerly known as the
Norwood owned by j. =. White K Son.
S125,O0O; the New Holland, Mrs. NJ. J.
Lee, $4,000: Stratford Arnold w.
Waldnor. $4,000: Berkeley. Rew
Brothers, $4,000; Bryn Mawr. ]. and
Il. Ketfer, $4,000; Sticllney. Mrs. l..
V. Stckney. $4,000; Evard. James r.
German, $4,000: Rio Grandc. J. u.
Fitzpatrick, $4,000 Mcrvinc. X. FcIs.
$4,000; Academy Hotel and Academy
of Music, Charles Fralinger. $4,000;
Windsor. q. Jason Waters martly de-
stroycO. $4,000; Tarlton. G.. Jason
Waters. $4,000
The fire was discovered shortly af-
ter o'clock Il. m. and for nearly five
hours the flames ragged with such vio-
lence as to threaten the city with de-
struction. All the burned buildings
Were frame structures. and The flames.
fanned by strong southwest wind,
swept along the beach front with
amazing rapidity.
The local Fire Department worked
well and willingly. but was unable to
cope with the flames, and 1t was found
necessary To send to PHILADELPHIA ana
Camden for aid. The former city sent
three engines, and two came from
Camden. They were of vast assist
ance to the local firemen, but it was
not until an hour after their arrival
that the fire could be said to be thor
oughly under control
During the fire the Widest cvcitn
ment prevailed among the guests of
the hotels which later became the
prey of tho flames. With the cXceD-
ti0n of the Tarlton and the Bryn NiaYr
all the hotels We're open for the sea-
son, and most of them were fairly we'll
filed. In most cases the guests he'd
sufficient time to pack their trunks
and grips. Those who did not do this
carried their personal effects To places
OF safety in the best manner possible
under the circumstances
The beach appeared TO he he most
suitable depository. and many monde.
script heaps of clothing. beddinr and
furniture We're to be seen on fhc sand
rms rendered extra vigilance ncces-
salY on the part OF The police. The
members of the volunteer fire dcDort-
ment acted as special policemen. and
Company J., National Guard OF New
Jersey. was called into rcnuisition 70
preserve order. The Morris Guards q
local organization. were also sworn in
rs Special policemen.
All of tho guests of burned hotels
who were forced 10 seek other Quarters
have Eeen cared for. Those who were
staying nj the Luray We're sent to the
New .1olel Marlborough. which is I'M
der The same management. Others
registered - various hotels and board.
in% houses.
MaNor Stoy was not in the city when
the fire broke out. having gone to
Trenton with dele cation from hcre
TO urge Governor Murphy TO sign The
new Nii"nUc City CHARTER He re-
iu"rrd To this city immcdiateIv after
the charter was signed. ana issued
statement dcploring the calamity.
bu, expressing satisfaction that il was
no worse.
Atlantic Cily's previous hig fire was
IN august 1892 when the City Hau
hlcck was destroyed including the
ppera House. small hotel ana 4
dozen shons. Kuehnle's Hotel Nyos
considerably damage Several other
hres have occurred mere, ana on each
occasion the total destruction of the
town was looked Tor. but not until tho
latest contagration did this possibility
SEEM assured OF realization.