The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-02
Famous New York Resort Nearly
Cleaned Out by Big Blaz,.
ESTIMATED OAMAG: 100000
Alleged IncsntIarlss unisr Ausst-ASSuf
500 People We're Rendered homeless.
Many Badly Injured.

New York, Nov. 2--coney Island was
swept by fire yesterday afternoon and
evening. which ln-g few hours destroyed
property to the value OF about 100000
made 500 people homeless and entirely
wiped out the acres of dives, cheaI
shows. restaurants, dance halls and vari
Gus other characteristic Coney Island re
sorts. which lined the .Bowery and extend
cd for some nine blocks 20 the eastward
and as far south as the surf line of the
sea itself
The region destroyed was practically
the same as that which was burned M
in 1885, with the exception that this time
the area left In ashes is much larger than
II was at the former flre. So far as
could be learned at late hour last night
. number OF persons were more or less
severely injured one OF whom. Albert
Rubens. was SO badly burned that IL was
said at the Kings County hospital that u
was doubtful IL he would survive until
morning.
Two young men, Peter skelly. aged "a
and Frank Conley. aged 27 are under ar
rest, charged with having started the
Sire. and the officers are looking for still
another young man named Charles Con
nelly. who was also under suspicion OF
being an accessory 10 the crime,
FOUR ALARMS SENT IN.
II was ten minutes before 4 o'clock
yesterday afternoon and I'm n vacant
building known as the hippodrome. ad-
Joining Tice's Alba tross hotel that the
fire broke out II spread so swiftly that
by the time Tice had notified Roundsman
nd IA off1 had turned I'm
an alarm. not only the hippodrome. but
Tice's hotel Itself, were blazing fiercely,
Both of these buildings are on Tiyou
walk and close 10 the large structures Of
Steeplechase park There was light
wind blowing at the time. almost directly
from the west. and the sparks and flames
were carried along In a line parallel wita
Surf avenue and seemed to threaten the
destruction Of the mile or more OF build
ings In front OF them.
The buildings at Steeplechsse park TO
the east Of the point where the FIRE
started were scorched by the heat and
several times burst into flames which.
however. were quickly subdued by the
fire apparatus whicn is part Of the park $
equipment.
Roundsman Kennedy in quick success
sion turned In two. three and finally -four
alarms.
Eighteen engines and eight trucks alto
gether were in short time ready TO
tackle the big job before them.
There was heavy handicap at the
start. as the water supply was utterly
inadequate. During all OF the severe
work which fell upon the fire depart
ment. there was barely water pressure
OF 10 pounds.
From Tilyou walk and the Bowery
he u.a "a aA
In a northessterly direction
toward Surf avenue. which IL reached at
walk. from where Il went
eastward along the south side OF Surf
avenue 10 Stratton's walk, Hendersons
walk and. finally. to Thompson's walk.
where 1t was held in check by the heavy
brick wall OF Henderson's dancing payi-
ION.
SAVED BETTER SECTION.
At the corner OF Thompson's walk,
leading down 10 tIendersons dancing pa
vilion. there Is a large frame building
owned by Henderson and occupied by the
Marathon restaurant Across the walk
from this building, a distance OF barely %
feet. there II Sutphen's large hotel in
which IL a drug store and a liquor store
IL was obvious II this building. with It's
large stock OF inflammable contents
cs ught Are the result would be wide ex-
tension OF the area Of confagration
Across the way on the north side OF Surf
avenue II Luna Park with its acres OF In
fiammable structures. The fremen con-
centrated all their efforts therefore in
drenching out the Marathon Hotel and in
preventing the flames from leaping over
the narrow walk TO Sutphens In this way
they were successful so far as Surf ave-
hue was concerned the fire stopped right
there. But I'm the read toward the ocean
u had Its own way. sweeping everything
before II TO tho waters edge and east
ward az far as Jones walk. block be-
yond where IL was checked. All OF the le-
zion Is swept clear with the exception OF
here and there a scorched and balf-wreck-
I'd building which were spared by the cu-
rious freaks which big fires sometimes
lake.
But there was another element besides
The energy OF the firemen which really
proved the salvation OF the greater and
better part Of Coney Island. The wind.
which was nearly due west when the nre
started. by hslf-past 5 had switched
around TO the northwest and was blowing
WIN increasing force. This completely
Ranked the fire I'm direction IN which
heretofore Il had been advancing
VERY LITTLE rHIEvERY.
The greatest losses were those which
Iel upon y Y Henderson and Louis
siauch. Both had large restaurants aud
Dancing pavllions. which had been run
W very respectable way and represented
heavy investments. There was rumor
about IN the crowd that MIR stau.h had
ncen 80 distressed by his issses tha, be
hsd committed suicide. The details even
nso been given how ne nsd walked into
ne burning building and fred revolver
snot INTO he head. fhis. like insny other
yarns mat were circulated On the crowd.