The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-08
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT ATLANTIC
CITY, N. j.
TWELVE HOTELS BURNED
stroyed-The Loss. with Very Lit
tie Insurance, Estimated mt $780,
ooo-Two Blocks. Along the Beach
Burned Out-Fire Engines From
Philadelphia and Camden Come
to the Aid of the City-Ne Live.
Lost.

Atlantic City. y. J.. April S-Twelve
hotels and more than a score OF small
buildings adjoining the boardwalk.
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 Nsy
York avenue The loss. IL is believed,
will exceed $3.50. 900. In this respect
the confiagration 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 here is regarded as almost
prohibitive.
Fortunately no lives were sacrificed.
though probably a dozen person were
slightly injured and burned during the
progress of the fire. It was reported
early in the afternoon hat six men had
persisted in the flames. but the rumor
was without foundation.
The origin OF the fire is unknown, but
is said to have started in either Brady's
baths or the Tarlton hotel. which ad-
Joins the bath. at Illinois avenue and
the board walk.
The city tonight is guarded by z COM
pany of militia who were requested b.
the municipal authorities to aid the
police in the prevention of footing.
About a dozen men were arrested dur
ing the day 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 ]. S. White & Son.
S125. 900: the new Holland, Mrs. NJ. J..
Lee. $4,000; Stratford. Arnold w.
Waldner, $40. 900; Berkeley, Bew Broth
er, $25. 0C0; Stickney, Mrs. L. V. Stick
ney. 10000: Evard. James T.. German,
$40. 900: Rio Grande. j. p. Fitzpatrick.
$50. 600: Mervine. X. Eels. $40. 900; Acad-
envy hotel and Academy of Music,
Charles Fralinger. SIS 5000; Windsor, G..
Jason Waters (partly destroyed) SIS
900: Tarlton. G.. Jason Waters, $780, 90.
Charles Keller, who conducted a drug
store on the boardwalk at Kentucky ay-
enue, estimates his loss at $50, 600 and
Victor Freisinger, proprietor of an art
store at st. James Place and the
boardwalks, says his loss is $50. 900.
Other victims whose losses IN
from 5000 to So 600 are: James A.
Brady. ~bathhouse: David John, drug
SASt. ~ o6ail "a SSca1s
Haines. florist: Shimamera & Co, Pap
anese novelties; Ching Hop Hing.
Chinese novelties: John H. Flett, art
store; Partridge & Richardson, MILL
merry n dry goods; women's ex-
change; E. p. Quinn. hair dresser; NJ
Mayer & Brother. jewlry; Richard
Binder. barber.
In addition to the foregoing, there
were numerous other smaller booths
md several Cntt9ppS nm minor thor
oughfares in the rear of the boardwalk,
which were either partially or entirely
destroyed.
The fire was discovered shortly after
8 o'clock this morning and for nearly
five hours the flames ragged with such
violence as to threaten the city with
destruction. All of the burned build
flames. famed by a southwest wind.
swept along the beach front with amaZ-
ing rapidity. The Tarlton hotel wa
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 STRAIT
ford hotel. which was soon enveloped.
The fiery tongues leaped to the Berke-
ley, adjoining. and in a few minute
the new Holland. the Bryn Mawr. the
Evard and the Stickney, all located on
Kentucky avenue e the beach, were
dOOmed.
The local fire department worked
well and willingly, but was unable to
cope with the flames and ii was founi
necessary to send to Philadelphia ami
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 sixty miles in fifty-five minutes.
Their presence here was of vast assist
lance to the local firemen. but il was
not until an o 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 burning
brand set fire to the centre OF Young's
pier near Tennessee n Meantime
the. flames had communicated with the
Rio Grande hotel. the Mervine and the
Academy hotel and the Academy of
Music at the corner of New York ave
nue. and the beach.