The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-04
MANY HOTELS BURN
FLAMES WORK RUIN AT SEASIDE
RESORT.
ATLANTIC CITY DEVASTATED
TIE LOSS s75O.oOo with Small IN
surance.


Board Walk Fall Before the
Flames-The Marine Hall on
YOung's Pier Burned and the Pier
Bisected-Entire City Was Threat
eped, but Flames Were Checked
With Aid of Philadelphia Fire De-
partment.
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 ocean edge.
swept the beach front for two long
blocks, from Illinois avenue to New
York avenue. The loss, it is believed,
will exceed $750,0OO. In this respect the
confiagration is the most disastrous
that has ever visited this city. The
loss will be only partly covered by in
surance as the rate of per cent
charged by insurance companies on
property here is regarded as almost
prohibitive. Fortunately, no lives were
sacrificed, though probably a dozen
persons were slightly injured and
burned during the progress of the fire.
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
Brady's baths or the Tarlton Hotel,
which adjoins the baths at Illinois ave-
me and the hoard v,oIIy
The city is tonight guarded by a
company of militia, who were request
ed by the municipal authorities to aid
the police in the prevention of loot
ing. About a dozen men were arrest
ed during 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 j. S. White & Son,
$125,000; the New Holland, Mrs. ]. M.
Lee, $4,000; Stratford, A. w. Waldner,
$4,000; Berkeley, Bew Brothers, $780, 900;
Bryn Mawr. ]. & E. Keffer, $25, 900;
Stickney, Mrs. l.. v. Stickney, 800 900;
Eyard, James T. German, s20,00O; Rio
Grande, j. p. Fitzpatrick, $50, 900; Mer-
vine, K. Eells, $30, 900; Academy Hotel
and Academy of Music, Charles Fra
nngers $4,000; Windsor, q. J. waters
partly destroyed, $4,000; Tarlton, G..
Jason Waters, $40, 900.
Charles Keller, who conducted a
drug store on the board walk at Ken
lucky avenue, estimates his loss at
$4,000, and Victor Freisinger, proprie-
tor of an art store at st. James Place
and the board walk. says his loss is
$50, 200.
Other victims, whose losses range
from $4,000 to $4,000, are: James A.
Brady, bath house; David John, drug
gist; Nabass & Kazar, Oriental goods;
Haines, florist; Shimamura & Co., Jap
anese novelties; Chip Hop Hing, Chi
nese novelties; John H. Flett, art store;
Partridge & Richardson, millinery and
dry goods; Woman's Exchange; E. p.
Quinn, hair. dresser; NJ. Mayer & Bro,
jewelry; Richard Binder. barber
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.
The Entire City Threatened.
The fire was discovered shortly after
O'Clock this morning, and for nearly
five hours the flames ragged with such
violence as to threaten the city with
destruction. All the burned buildings
were frame structures, and the flames.
famed by a southwest wind, swept
along the beach front with amazing ra-
pidfty The Tarlton Hotel was soon a
pile of smoldering 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 Berkeley
adjoining, and in 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 I'M
able to cope with the flames, and it
was found necessary to send to Phila-
delphia and Camden for aid. The former
city sent three engines. and two came
from. Camden. The engines were
brought here on two special trains
furnished by the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company, and they made the run
of nearly sixty miles in fifty-five min
utes. Their presence here was of vast
assistance to the local firemen, but it
was not until an hour after their ar
rival that the. fire could be said to be
thoroughly under control.
Just as the train bearing the Phil
adelphia tiremen arrived a burning
brand set fire to the center of Young's
pier, near Tennessee avenue. Meantime
the flames had communicated with the
Rio Grande, the Mervine, and the
Academy Hotel, and the Academy of
Music at the corner of New York ave-
nue. and the beach
The Marine Hall Destroyed.
The Marine Hall, on Youngs pier,
was entirely destroyed, bisecting the
pier. The widest excitement prevailed
among the guests of the hotels. Most
of the hotels were fairly we'll filled
with guests. In most cases they had
sufficient time to pack their trunks and
grips, but many heaps of clothing, bed
ding and furniture were deposited on
the beach.
The Morris Guards Company, and
members of the volunteer fire depart
ment, acted as special policemen, and
Company L, National Guard of New
Jersey, was called out to preserve or
der.
Strenuous efforts were made by the
firemen to prevent the destruction of
the Windsor Hotel. which was the last
to take fire. At 1890 the wing of the
Windsor nearest the blazing structures
began to burn and in half an hour
had been consumed. The flames, how
ever, were confined to this section of
the building.
Governor Signed the Charter.
Nothing but the iron supports OF
the board walk Is left from Illinois