New-York tribune., 1907-07-29

ing establishments, new amusement enterprises
and more scenic railways, until Balmer's baths
were reached.
Beyond was the beach. ard for while it looked
ss though the sand would De the only thing 70
halt the conlagration. Over in the reception
hospital across the park Miss Birney and Miss
Carter. the nurses in charge. with DR.. Moore
made preparations 10 move all the patients
should need arise. In a tent near the main
building were score of children with tuber-
culosis Of the bone, and the flying sparks which
drifted perilousy near the canvas caused con-
siderable anxiety
Another thing which aroused the ffremen to
even more earnest attempts check the flames
was the Bostock wild animal show, in Dream
land abuttng Surf avenue. Had this place
once taken fire there is no doubt that many of
the frenzied animals would have escaped and at
least caused a dangerous panic Across the
street, on the north side of Surf avenue. the
proprietors felt comparatively safe but all took
preventive measures. Frederic Thompson and
his chief aid Mcclellan, took command of their
own fire fighters and had everything ready
should occasion arise. In its rival, which
more IN danger ex-Sherlff Buttling and Billy"
Ellis led the fire fighters. who displayed notable
discipline and readiness.
EVERYTHING BURNED CLEAN.
No other place than Coney Island could have
produced the attendant scenes Of yesterdays
blaze. The fire itself was in no ways different
from hundreds of others, If the absolute clean
sweep il made wherever It touched be
cepted. There were no smoking ruins, for every
thing had been reduced TO ashes. Looking over
the burned area was much like grazing on an
Arizona desert. Everything was level, the
great stretch Of ashes being broken only here
and there by some warped and twisted rail OF
a scenic railway.
Above the desolation of Steeplechase Park
rose the tower of the airships, its base bent and
distorted. where it had yielded to the heat. a
few yards away prone on its side, lay the steel
tower which had supported n tank with a ca
pacity of forty tons of water This weight had
proved tco much. The heat gradually softened
the supporting steel structure and 1t leaned
over to one side like stick Of softening candy
until finally Il crashed to the ground
The Ferris wheel. further over. had only two
or three Of its cars burned. and these were re-
placed in time to make a harvest for the man
owning the concession. Little trees and shrubs
untouched by the blistering heat, still showed
green on that side of the park. strangely In
congruous oasis. Much more in keeping was the
Cyclone House" which. built upside down.
needed only TO have little Of its paint scorched
TO be in harmony with the mournful surrouHC-
tngs.
sr1o vo,, know what regret more than any
thing else?" said Mr.. Tilyou, who had lost
million. uncovered by insurance with the nerve
Of a good gambler. ''I put up some chlrneS near
the grandstand in commemoration Of my little
daughter Gladys when she died They Went
down with the fire, but the first thing shall 90
Will be TO replace them l had rather lose any
thing in the park than those chimes.
Everybody aided everybody else. Total
strangers gave their strength to carry out the
baggage of others. Only two thefts were re-
ported and these the islanders attributed 10
outsiders. Thieves got into the concert hall run
by Louis Lentz about the time that the fire did
They took away cash register containing
nearly $1,000 With the cutters literally flow
ing with liquor, somebody IN the excitement
loaded up hand truck with fine case whiskey
which he found beside the door Of 'Dexter's
q place run by "Scotty" Morgan. He took the
whskey away with him.
Another unfortunate was an Egyptian, who
in some way had acquired the Hibernian cog
ronnen Of Mike McGill and $1,000. He buried
the money under one Of the piers he had
little faith in banks. and three story building
burned down right top of 1t. When the po-
lice refused to let him dig in the still blazing
wreckege he nearly went insane. Finally
friends Gained him and led him away.
NEGLECTs PROPERTY TO SAVE CANARY.
Joseph Perry. who has a large saloon and
hotel right on the edge Of the burned belt has
also pet canary. Harry Auerbach the head
waiter. awakened him, and together they start
ed removing the many mirrors from the walls
and packing the books away. The flames were
threatening the place from two sides, and ap-
parently there was not a second to spare. Sud
denly Perry stopped work. "Oh. TO hell with
the stuff" he exclaimed. I've got TO get that
canary" He took the bird out and carried it
Ave blocks away TO safety before he returned
10 look after his money and books. The fire.
however missed his place.
Axel Young, who looks so much like the Presi-
dent that he led the Mardi Gras parade Of last
year died about three weeks ago, leaving TO his
wife place valued at $1,000 at Oceanic Walk
and the BoWery. The Widows only legacy was
wiped out In twenty minutes. John Weiss, who
ran a billiard room IN Oceanic Walk, sem
fenced few days ago for working the lemon
game to four years in the penitentiary. He
also lost all his property.
The aid given by the police apparently
all that could be desired. Deputy Commissioner
O'Keene took charge, and Deputy Commission
ers Bugher and Hanson We're hand to help
out If necessary. The safe side OF Surf avenue
piled high with household goods, either
left unguarded else watched by half dressed
men and women. Women from the dance halls
dressed before mirrors in the streets and begged
f6g place TO sleep.
Violations Of the excise law were openly
biinked at two bars the edge Of the burnt
area being open all day and running without
the least pretence Of observing the law And
this was after Captain Langham had closed the
island tighter at midnight than IL had ever been
closed before.
While deaths were absent, narrow escapes
from It were many When Patrolman Lynch
and Sergeant Shea rushed into the Steeplechase
Hotel they found IL already ablaze and filled
with smoke. Together they carried out more
than twenty women. Doc Cannon carried Miss
Grace Fortney an actress in one Of the Ellis
shows safely out of Hart's Hotel, after she had
tainted in the smoke filed halls trying to get a
couple Of small children 10 safety.
Louis Newman, in moving some of his prop
erty from Surf avenue 10 place Of safety in
18th street, hired cab with a nervous horse
hitched 10 II In front Of Steeplechase Park the
horse bolted, throwing Newman and his money