The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-04
ORIGIN OF FIRE UNKNOWN
Atlantic City Has Never known Such
a Confagation.
BAsFLEss RUMoRs OF SIX LIVES LOST
II is Believed The Loss win Txcsed Seven Hun
dr. and Fifty thousand Dolias Which
Will be Partially Covered by
Insurance.
(By the Associated Press.)

Atlantic City, N. j.. April 3-Twelve
/ hotels and more than a score of small
| buildings adjoining the board walk, which
is built along the oceans edge, were de-
stroyed today by fire which swept the
beach front for two long blocks from
Illinois Avenue to New York Avenue.
| The loss, it is believed, will exceed
$750,O00 In this respect the conflagra-
tion is the most disastrous that has ever
visited this city. The loss will be only
partly covered by insurance as the rate
of per cent charged by insurance COM
panies 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. 1t was
reported early in the afternoon that six
men had perished in the flames but the
rumor was without foundation. The ori-
gin of the fire is unknown. but it is said
to have started in either Brady's baths
or the Tarlton Hotel, which adjoins the
baths at Illinois Avenue and the board
walk
The city tonight is guarded by a COM
pany OF militia who were requested by
the municipal authorities to aid the
police in the prevention of looting. About
dozen men were arrested during the
day for robbery
The hotels destroyed and their esti-
mated losses are:
The Luray and Annex, the latter form
erly known as the Norwood, owned by
]. S. White and Son, s125,00O; the new
Holland, Mrs. M. j. Lee. 100000; STRAIT
ford, Arnold w Waldner, $40 900; Berk-
ley, Bew Bros, $4,000; Bryn Mawr, ].
and E. Keffer. $4,000; Stickney, Mrs.
L. " Stickney, $4,000; Evard, James T.
German. 1000; Rio Grande, ]. p Kill
patrick, 100000; Mervine, X. Eells. $780,
O00 Academy Hotel and Academy OF
Music, Charles Fralinger, $4,000; Wind
sor G. Jason Waters (Partly destroyed).
$4,000; Tarlton, G. Jason Waters,
$50, 900.
Charles Keeler, who conducted drug
store ON the board walk at Kentucky
Avenue, estimates his loss at $50 900, and
Victor Freisnger, proprietor of an art
store a s.. James Place and the board
walk, says his loss is 1000. Other VIC
Tins whose losses range from $5, 600 to
$4,000 are:
James A. Brady, bath house; David
John, druggist; Nabass & Kazarr, Orien-
tai goods; Haines, florist; Shimamura G.
Company, Japanese novelties; Ching Hon
Hing, Chinese novelties; John H. Flett,
art store; Partridge & Richardson, mil
linery and dry goods Women's Ex-
change; E. P. Quinn. hair dresser; M.
Mayer & 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 we're
either partially Or entirely destroyed
The fire was discovered shortly after
nine o'clock this morning, and for nearly
four hours the flames ragged with such
violence as to threaten the city with de-
struction. All of the burned buildings
were frame structures and the flames.
famed by a 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 between
Illinois and Kentucky Avenue until thew
reached the Stratford Hotel, which was
soon envelOped. The fiery tongues leap
ed to the Berkley adjoining, and in a
few minutes the new Holland, the Bryn
Mawr, the Evard and the Stiskney. ain
located en- Kentucky Avenue near the
beach, were doomed. The local FIRE de-
partment worked we'll and willingly, but
was unable TO cope with the flames, and
it was found necessary to send to PhiIa-
delphia 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 fur
nished by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company. and they made the run of
nearly so miles in 55 minutes. Their
presence here was of vast assistance tn
the local flremen, but it was not until
an hour after that arrival that the FIRE
fire could be said to be thoroughly under
control
Just as the special train beaI.-
ing the Philadelphia firemen arrived a
burning brand set fire to the Central Of
Young's Pier, near Tennessee Avenue.
In few minutes the flames commnni-
Gated with the Rio Grande Hotel. the
Mervine and the Academy Hotels ana
the Academy of Music at the corner OF
New York Avanua and tho haanh