Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-04-10
TWELVE HOTELSBURNED
Atlantic City's Ocean Front Swept
by Fierce Fire.
THE LOSS WILL EXCEED s7so,ooo
Flames Swept Along Boardwalk, Eat
Ing Up Hotels, Business Places and
Several Blocks Of the Esplanade.
No Lives Were Lost.

several BLOCKS OF tnc ESpidhdue.
No Lives Were Lost.
Atlantic City. N. j.. April 4.-Twelve
hotels and more than score of small
buildings adjoining the boardwalk,
which is built along the ocean edge.
were destroyed yesterday by fire
which swept the beach front for two
long blocks, from Illinois avenue to
New York avenue. The loss. 1t is be-
lieved, will exceed $750,000. In this
respect the confiagration is the most
disastrous that has ever visited this
city. The loss will be only partly COW
cred by insurance, as the rate of o
per cent charged by insurance COM
panies on property is regarded as al
most prohibitive. Fortunately no lives
were sacrificed, though probably
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 Illi-
nois avenue and the boardwalk. The
city last night was guarded by 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 Keeler, who con-
Quoted a drug store on the boardwalk
at Kentucky avenue, estimates his
loss at $60,000and Victor Freisinger,
proprietor of an art store $50,000.
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 9 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 along
the beach front with amazing rapidity.
The Tarlton hotel was soon 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 Berkley, ad
| Joining, and in few minutes the New
Holland, the Bryn Mawr the Evard
and the Stickney, all located on Ken.
! tucky avenue, near the beach, were
| doomed The local fire department
worked well and willingly, but was
unable to cope with the flames, and
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-
7, emy 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
| confining the flames to Marine Hall,
which is situated in the centre of the
pier. This structure was entirely
| destroyed, bisecting the pier.
During the progress of the fire the
Widest excitement prevailed among
the guests of the hotels whicn later
becar. a prey to the flames. With
the exception of the Tarlton and the
Bryn Mawr, all of the hostelries were
open for the season, and most of them
were fairly we'll 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 crcum-
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 vigi.
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 were made by the
firemen to prevent the destruction of
the Windsor Hotel, which was the last
to take fire. The wind had been fa-
vorable to the flremen, but the wing
of the Windsor nearest the blazing
structures began to burn, and in the
course of half hour had been con-
sumed. The flames, however, were
confined to this section OF the build.