Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-04
SWEPT BY FIRE.
Atlantic City, N. j., Has Loss
Of Over $750,OOO.
Two Blocks, From Illinois to New York
Avenue, Swept Away.
Help from Philadelphia and Camden
Assist in Subduing It.

Atlantic City, n. j., April 3.-Twelve
hotels and more than a score of small
buildings adjoining the bord 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 exceed S.50,000. In this respect
the Indignation is the most disas-
trous that has ever visited this CITY.
The loss will be only partly covered
by insurance, as the rate of 5 per
cent. charged by insurance companies
on property shere, is regarded as al
most prohibitive.
Fortunately no lives were sacrificed,
though probably a dozen persons were
slightly injured and burned. 1t was
reported, early in the afternoon, that
six men had persisted in the flames
but the rumor was without founda-
ton.
The origin of the fire is unknown
but is said to have started in either
Bradys baths or the Tarleton, which
adjoins the baths at Illinois avenue
and the board walk.
The city, tonight, is guarded by a
company of militia who were request
ed by the municipal authorities to aid
the police in the prevention of looting
About dozen men We're arrested dur
ing the day for robbery.
The hotels destroyed and their esti-
mated losses are: The Luray and Annex,
the latter formerly known as the Nor
wood, owned by J. S. White & Son, $780,
OGO; the New Holland, Mrs. NJ. j. Lee
$780, 600; Stratford. Arnold w. Waldner
$40, 600; Berkeley, $4,000; >Bryn Mawr, j.
&. E. Refer, $4,000; Stickney, Mrs. l.. "
Stickney, $4,000; Evard, James T. Cor
man, So. COO; Rio Grande, ]. p Kilpat-
| rick, $4,000; Morvine, E. Eels, $4,000;
Academy Hotel and Academy of Music,
Chas. Fralinger $4,000; Windsor, G. ia
son Waters (partly destroyed, $4,000;
Tarleton. G. Jason Waters, $4,000.
Charles Keller, a druggist. estimates
his loss at 10000 and Victor Freisinger,
proprietor of an art store, $4,000. Other
victims whose losses range from $4,000 to
$4,000 are: Jas. A. Brady, bath house !;
David John, druggist; Nabass & Kazarr,
Oriental goods; Haines, florist; Shima-
mura & Co., Japanese novelties; Ching
Hop Sing, Chinese novelties; John H.
F'lett. art store; Partridge & Richardson,
millinery and dry goods; Women's Ex-
change; E. p. QUINN hair dresser; NJ
Meyer & Bro, jewelry; Richard Binder
barber.
In addition to the foregoing there were
numerous other smaller booths and sew
eral cottages on minor thoroughfares in
the rear of the board walk, which were
either partially or entirely destroyed.
The fire was discovered shortly after 3
o'clock this morning, and for nearly five
hours the flames ragged with such ven
geance as to threaten the city with de-
struction. All the burned buildings were
frame structures and the flames famed
by strong southwest wind swept along
the beach front with Amazing rapidity.
The Tarleton Hotel was soon a pile OF
smouldering debris and the flames fed on
the small stores and booths between Hi
nois and Kentucky avenues until they
reached the Stratford Hotel. which was
soon enve1oped. The fire leaped to the
Berkeley adjoining and in a few minutes
the new Holland, the Bryn Mawr, the
Evard and the Stickney. all located on
Kentucky avenue near the beach, were
doomed.
The local fire department worked well
and willingly but was unable to cope with
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.
The engines were brought here on
two special trains of the Pennsylvania
Railroad and they made the run of
nearly 60 miles in SIS minutes. Their
presence was of vast assistance to the
local firemen, but it was not until an
hour after their arrival that the fire
could be said to be thoroughly under
control.
Just as the special train bearing the
Philadelphia tiremen arrived, burn
ing brand set fire to the center of
Young's pier near Tennessee avenue.
Meantime the flames had commune
Gated with the Grande, the Morvine
and the Academy hotels and the Acad-
envy Of Music at the corner of New
York avenue and the beach. For
few moments Young's pier burned
fiercely, but the firemen succeeded in
combining the flames to Marine hall,
which was situated in the center of the
pier. This structure was entirely de-
stroyed. bisecting the pier.
During the progress of the fire the
widest excitement prevailed among the
guests of the hotels which later be-
came prey to the flames. With the eX-
ception of the Tarlton and the Bryn
Mawr. all of the hostelries were open
for the season and most of them We're
fairly well filed In most cases the
guests had sufficient time to pack their
trunks and grips and those who did
not do this carried their personal eff
fects to places of safety in the best
manner possible under the circum-
stances. The beach appeared to be the
most suitable depository and many nom
descript heaps of clothing, bedding and
furniture appeared in the sand. This
rendered extra vigilance necessary on
the part of the police.
The members of the volunteer fire de-
partment acted as special policemen
and Co. L, National Guard of New Jer-
sey, was called into requisition to pre-
serve ordac.
Strenuous efforts were made by the
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