Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-04-11
J DO zen III r 3 ELS BURN
FIRE SWEEPS THE BEACH 'FRONT.'
FOR TWO BLOCKS At ALLAN.
TIC CITY, N. J.

TIC CITY, N. J. 81
No Lives Lost, Though Dozen Per.
sons Were More or Less Injured and
Burned-PhiladeIphia and Camden
Send Engines to Aid in Fighting
the Flames-Militia Company Is.
: Called Out. ..s..~
Atlantic City, N. J., April 4.-Twelve
hotels and more than score of small
buildings adjoining the board walk,
which is built along the ocean edge.
were destroyed by a fire which swept.
the beach front for two long blocks
from Illinois avenue to New York av-;
enue. The loss, it is believed, will ex-
coed $750,000. In this respect the
conflagration is the most disastrous
that has ever visited this city. The,
loss will be only partially covered by
insurance, as the rate of S per cent
charged by insurance companies on
property here is regarded as almost
prohibitive. -.
Fortunately, no lives were sacrificed,
though probably dozen persons were
slightly injured and burned during the
progress of the fire. It was reported
early in the afternoon that six men
had persisted in the flames, but the ru-
NOR was without foundation. The or
igin or the fire is unknown, but it is
said to have started either in Brady's
baths or the Tarlton hotel, which ad-
joins the baths at Illinois avenue and
the board walk. The city is guarded
by company of militia who were re-
quested by the municipal authorities
to aid the police in the prevention OF
lootirg. About a dozen men were ar
rested during the day for robbery.
The fire was discovered shortly aft
or 9 o'clock a. M. and for nearly five
hours ragged. with such violence as to
threaten the city with destruction. All
Of the burned buildings were frame
structures and the flames, famed by
strong west wind,
Swept Along the Beach Front
with amazing rapiGity. The Tarlton
hotel was soon a pile of smouldering
debris and the flames fed on the small
stores and booths between Illinois and
Kentucky avenues until they reached
the Stratford hotel, which was soon
enveloped. The fiery tongues leaped
to the Berkeley, adjoining, and in few
minutes the New Holland, the Bryan
Mawr, the Evard and the Stickney,
all located on Kentucky avenue near
the beach, were doomed. The loca.
fire department worked well and WI
ingly, 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 Cam
den. The engines were brought here
on two special trains furnished by
the Pennsylvania Railroad company,
and they made the run of nearly 60
miles in IS minutes. Their presence
here was Of vast assistance to the To-
cal firemen, but it was not until an
hour after their arrival that the fire
could be. said to be thoroughly under
control. lust as the special train bear
ing the Philadelphia firemen arrived.
burning brand set fire to the center
of Young's pier, near Tennessee aven-
ue. Meantime the flames had commu-
nicated with the Rio Grande, the Mer
vine and the Academy hotels and the
Academy OF Music, at the corner OF
New York avenue and the beach. For
few minutes 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 ex-
citement prevailed among the guests
of the hotels which later became prey
OF the flames. With the exception of
the Tarlton and the Bryan Nav, all
OF the hostelries were open for the
season and most of them were fairly
we'll 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 ef-
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
pondescript heaps of clothing, bedding
and furniture appeared in the sand.
This rendered extra vigilance neces-
sary on the part of the police.
The members of the volunteer fire
department acted as special policemen
and Company L, National Guard of
New Jersey. was called into reQuisi-
ton to preserve order.
Strenuous efforts were made by the
ffremen to prevent the destruction of
the Windsor hotel, which was the last
to take fire. The wind was favorable
to the f1remen, but at 1:30 o'clock the
wing of the Windsor nearest the blaz-
ing structures began to burn and in
the course of a 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 damaged by smoke and wa
ter.
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