The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-30
DIG In THE RUINS AT COMFY
LOSERS by TIE BIG FIRE LAUGH
AT MISFORTUNE.


stst on More Substantial Structures
Fire Marshai InVcstssting the Delay.
Jennie Latte. Nho dealt in canes and
agreeable conversation at Kensingtou Walk
and the Bowery before the big are Of Sun
day morning at Coney Island came whirling
along and swept sway everything but her
cheerfulness. was seeking the family jewels
yesterday afternoon. grubbing In the ashes
and clnders with a shovel and Q shoehorn.
Working country fairs and ~cirouses for
ten years with the cane rack and the oon
enabled Jennie 10 invest $4,000 In diamonds.
which she wore on Sundays TO dazzle less
prosperous females. There was no time
to save them Sunday morning because
Jennie was ysnked out OF the burning hotel
In her n~ightgown.
She was humming a tune and occasionally
whistling as she raked over the black debris
where the cane stand had been. Capt.
Lsngan of the Coney Island police. watch
Ing 20 See that the right persons went min
ing In the big twenty-five acre burned over
tract. stopped TO ask her what luck.
Nothing doing said Jennie. pleasantly.
We'll. you take II cheerfully," said the
captain,
"Why notl' said Jennie. whats been
made once can be made again. Them
stones came from ten years good honest
they come to the fairs with long grass In
their ears. and guess can go back and
over what. can't be helped. I'm a opti-
mlst. Cap"
amusement providers who ran shooting
galleries. hot dog stands, chowder~ counters.
billiard rooms, music halls or novelty
shops In the burned districts and who
went stone broke with the fire, took their
misfortunes about as coolly and cheerfully
as Jennie did. They simply said What's
the use to holler?" and went on grubbing
industriously in the big waste place. The
fire had done It's work so thoroughly that
their money and valuables In strong steel
safes recovered anything, but the digging
kept their minds of their troubles and gave
them something to do.
All Coney vas telling stories yesterday
about the hard luck OF the music hall singers
and dancers who we're driven out Of their
quarters with no time 10 take anything
with them except the clothes on their backs.
One girl. Florence Hero, a cashier IN Luna
Park, nearly lost her life in the Steeplechase
Hotel and all her things were burned.
Fred Thompson made up q purse OF 500
and gave 1t 20 her. Thompson, Mcclellan
and ~Shesgreen Of Luna Park got the names
yesterday Of a dozen girls who lost every
thing they had in the fire and made up
enough money to buy them clothes TO last
the rest Of the summer Other showmen
responded to the same generous impulse,
with the result that there will not he as
much suffering as might have been expected.
One Of the men the fire hit hard was
Johnny Clark. who ran a famous oyster,
clam and fish food stand in the fireswept
area. Years ago Johnny had much money
until he bucked the Wall Street game and
dropped, as Coney gossip has il, well on to
AEnn hna H.. H. . -. !
with his stand. Yesterday he was broke
again but game as ever.
Even George G. Tilyou. proprietor Of
Steeplechase Park and the heaviest loser
from the fire, was soeling better. He said
he would have twenty-five shows going by
Saturday night and that sixteen were
ready to run now
TiIyou opened his baked safe yesterday
and took 81. 400 worth OF charred bills
out Of il. They had to be handled care
redeemed by Uncle Sam. Tilyou said that
he would not attempt TO rebuild the park
this season. but that there would he a bigger
Steeplechase than ever there next year.
Unless the Building Department imposes
too serious restrictions most Of the hotel
men and show keepers will start business
again next season. |
Coney has found fires 80 dangerous to
life and disastrous to property that here
htACNNoN vi Nio hhtAcy |
lath, canvas and paint structures 80 COM
mon TO the island. Supt. Moore Of the
Building Department said yesterday that
he would ask the Building Codes Revision
Committee to compel property owners to !
use only ~ per cent. OF their lots for build
ing purposes il they meant 10 put up frame
houses. That would practically compel
III I'M TO build in brick and stone. he thought.
since they couldn't afford TO waste a fifth
OF their space. Another reform at Coney
NAV he the WIDENING of the walka and do /
ing AVA with wooden payements.
Fire Marshal Beers Of Brooklyn started
an official Investigation Of the fire yester-
day. Waterman Frost Of Steeplechase
that the fire started at 1853 A. NJ.
but the records at Brooklyn Fire Head
quarters showed hat the first alarm didn't
get there until 4:20 O'Clock. Beers wants
to find out why IL took twenty-seven
to turn in the first alarm.
Fireman Messeter. Who was fatally hurt
in Steeplechase Park. was removed to
Kings County Hospital yesterday. Sylves-
tor Meade. the newsboy who was badly