Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-29
C0NEY ISLAND.
SWEPT BY
FLAMES
MILLION DOLLAR LOSS
IN AMUSEMENT RESORT
Wild Panic Among MiSceIIan-
eOuS Assortment of Freaks,
Snake CharmerS, Etc., in
Famous Pleasure Ground,
my Morning journal special Leased wlr.I

my Morning journal Special Leased wiz.
New York, July 2s.--Coney Island
was visited by disastrous fire early
. today and seven blocks I'm the amuse-
ment zone were destroyed
The loss Is estimated by the show
men at more than st,000,0OO Tily-
GUS Steeplechase park and nearly
score of small hotels were wiped out
and FOR a time the flames threatened
destruction to Luna park and Dream
land. A lucky shift of the wind 10
seaward aided the firemen and prob
ably saved the entire amusement
area.
The destruction of Steepechass
park was spectacular sight. Tongues
OF flames leaped hither and thither.
licking up the scenic railway. the raz-
2le-dazzle, the dancing pavilion and
the horse racing railway. The Steeple--
chase hotel and nearly a score OF
smaller wooden hotels which fronted
along the western side OF the park
soon were blazing.
Fire Commissioner Iantry seeing
that nothing could be saved In the
park ordered that all efforts be con-
centrated on the east side of the burn
ing blocks. to keep the fire from get
ting into the fiimsy buildings In the
the entrance of the Bowery. and al
though Japanese skating rink. a
small dance hall and a restaurant
were destroyed there. the fire was
checked. The wind had In the mean
time switched into the south. and this
aided the fire fighters In confinlng the
fire to seven blocks.
The alarm Of fire woke up doing
Coney Island with start. and In a
few minutes Surf avenue was jammed
with excited freaks and frolickers.
chorus girls. snake charmers, animal
trainers performers, amusement en-
ployes--all the miscellaneous popuia-
tion of the island. in fact.
Armlc~s Wonder Escapes Unburt.
Inside the burning park all was ex-
citement ana confusion among the two
score employees who slept In a house
near the entrance. Carrying grips
and luggage they scurried to the
street. and while the exodus was In
progress cry went up that Sandora.
the armless and legless man. who eats
a dozen meals a day just TO show that
he can do It without the aid OF arms
and legs, was missing. Seizing a bas-
ket two employees hurried back and
round Sandora wiggling along the
floor toward the door. The wonder"
was piled into basket and though
the Flames and smoke threatened To
engulf his rescuers. he was carried to
a hotel. where he remarked that his
escape had been effected without the
loss OF life or limb"
Hotels Burn Like finder.
The hotels burned like tinder, aud A
few minutes suffieed TO wipe them
out clean.
one Of the first to escape from his
lodging place was Francesca, the fire
eater When things are calm and
placid, Francesca eats fire and
oreathes Il forth again, all for a live
ihood. Sometimes he is advertised to
Dathe In tongues Of flames, But to-
lays confagrafion was too much
sven for Francesca. and he wisely
rave way to the firemen
The fre put many small dancing
1alls and bathing pavilions out OF
business and the many sandwich men
Who store their stands in many crooks
md crannies between buildings, lost
Arthur Lee. manager OF Steeple-
hase park, speaking for Mr Tilyou.
aid the loss on the park. which was
completely destroyed, would reach
100000. and said there was no in
urance.
The police report three injured by
he fire. Giffreid Messerili. a fireman.
truck by a falling cornlce. sylvester
lead. slightly hurt. and Frank
also burned The Coney
sland postoffice was damaged
Estimates Of the total loss made by
he show people are somewhat I'm ex-
ess of the figures set by the police
nd fire departments The fire chief
no directed the fight said later that
over 100000" would be a conserva-
We estimate ~ the damage.