The Topeka state journal., 1902-04-03
FIRE SWEPT.
Ocean Front of Atlantic City
Trayersed by Flames.
COnflagratiOn Starts on Famous
Board Walk.
EIGHT HOTELS BURNED
Six Lives Reported Lost but
None Of the Guests.
Loss in Property is Estimated
at So, 100000.
FFREMEN POWERLESS.
Pump Water Direct From Ocean
to Blazing Structures.
Six Lives Reported Lost but
None Of the Guests.
Loss in Property is Estimated
at So, 100000.
FFREMEN POWERLESS.
Pump Water Direct From Ocean
to Blazing Structures.
NeighbOring Cities Send Help
but to Little Purpose.

Atlantic city. n. J.. April s.-The
most disastrous conhagration that has
ever visited this city is now raging
along the beach front for a distance Of
over three blocks. Eight hotels have
been either entirely or partially de-
stroyed. A strong southwest wind IS
blowing and the hremen seem to be
unable to cope with the flames. AS
sistance was asked from Philadelphia
and Camden, and the former city sent
three engines. the train making the
run in 55 minutes.
There is an unconfrmed report that
six men have lost their lives in the
flames. The fire originated in Brady's
bath house. located on the board walk
between New York and Kentucky ave
nues. and now extends from Illinois
avenue to Tennessee avenue, three
blocks The hotels so far destroyed
are: The Windsor. owned by C. Jason
Waters; The Berkeley, owned by Bew
Bros, the Stratford owned by Bew
Bros; the Stickney, owned by Myra c..
Stielzney; the Luray, owned by Josiah
White; the Tarlton, owned by G. Jason
Waters: the Evard, owned by Richard
Binder.
The New Holland hotel on Kentucky
avenue and Young's pier have caught
and are burning fercely. So far as can
be learned, no lives have been lost
among the guests.
The six men who are supposed TO
have been burned to death are two
policemen believed to have been buried
in the ruins of the Berkley hotel. two
fremen and two musicians. members of
the Royal Italian band. who are said
to have been in the Berkley.
ALL ON BOARD WALK
Practically all Of the property on fire
is attached to the board walk a frame
structure forty feet wide skirting the
edge of the ocean, and consisting main
ly of fiimsy wooden stores and bath
houses Fortunately the brisk wind
which is blowing is carrying the flames
away from the section of the city in
which the most valuable hotels and cot
tages are located.
The three Philadelphia fire companies
arrived here shortly before ] o'clock.
and Immediately began an attack on
the flames.
Shortly after l:s0 o'clock assistance
began to arrive by special train from
Camden, Sc miles distant and it is ex
pected that six engines viii be added
to the force now lighting the fire. Tn
wind from the west has increased some
what and is blowing the flames with
greater herceness YOungs pier and
the marine ball room of the pier are
entirely gone, and the inner portion of
the structure is being torn down to
save the adjacent properties At 1
o clock the fire 1eaped across Tennessee
avenue, and unless the Philadelphia
VoluHteer engines can stop it in its path
the following places Will be DESTROYED
~ Mohr & Bros. fancy store; J. VII
uams, optical store; CasWells candy
factory; l. r. Adams, baths two
fronts. Ching King & Co, auction store
and imported wares; Partisan diamond
parlo1s, Victor Fresinger's antique and
foreign ware store, John Young7s new
apartment house
If the fire is not stopped at this point.
which is improbable, the Dunlop hotel
the Blue Cavern cafe, Bleak House and
the y-gO-rounds viii follow
NEGROES CAUGHT LOOTING.
The Norris guards, a local military
organization has placed the use Of its
ar1nory at the disposal of the suffer
ers. The drill hall room looks like a
big storage house. Chief of Police
Eldridge ordered out the entire police
force to care for property in the streets
and in addition hundreds of citizens
volunteered to assist in the work ol
policing property. Several negroes were
arrested for lOoting.
As the fire spread along the beach il
burned the board walk and this placed
the nremen at a disadvantage as they
were compelled to retreat to the beach
In some instances the fire companies
We're unable to get their hose off the
board walk and it was destroyed. thus
hampering their efforts still further
The fremen from PHILADELPHIA ane
Camden pumped water direct from ths
ocean to the flames wherever this wa.
practicable.
The Luray hotel had the greates-
number of guests, and as this was on,
of the first places attacked by tn,
flames there were many scenes of ex
element as the guests made a hast,
exit. Fashionably dressed wofneI
helped carry trunks and valises. whfL
not few people who had not vet laf
bed ran out onto the board walk il
negiige.
In most Of the hotels burned ther,
was comparatively few guests. as til,
crowd Of visitors incident to the Faste
season had mostly departed. Never
theless there are a great number %
people here and it is safe to saw tha
an of them able to walk are watcTins
oreathlessly the efforts of the firemei
20 stay the flames.
Hundreds Of citizens turned out tt