New-York tribune., 1907-07-30
SEARCH ISLAND ASHES.
VOLUNTEERS SEEK DEAD.
"Cause Unkno1cn" Satisfies Police
but Firemen VIII Investigate.

While a score OF rumors as to the origin of
the fire which destroyed Steeplechase Park and
several adjoining hotels in Coney Island. on
Sunday morning are being discussed by show
men and business men, the police are resting
satisfied with the report Cause unknown.
which entered in the Coney Island station
house blotter before the fire was under control
William l.. Beers. field marshal of Brooklyn,
made official investigation as TO the cause OF
the fire. II shown that twenty min
utes elapsed from the outbreak of the fire and
the sounding of the first alarm John Frost. a
watchman in Steeplechase Park. told the fire
marshal that he had sounded an alarm from an
automatic box in the park. but no record Of II
received at fire headquarters.
The Fire Department officials say that the fire
was started in several barrels OF rubbish stored
under the main stairway. II IS supposed by
them that lighted cigar or cigarette stub was
swept up with the rubbish and started the blaze
Gottfried Messeri OF Engine 145. the only
fireman seriously injured, is in dying cOndi-
ton at the Kings County Hospital Against the
order of DR.. Hail. Of the Fire Department. the
injured fireman was removed from the Coney
Island Reception Hospital and the transfer is
thought to be responsible for his condition.
w. report that the flames started
by inccndiary commonly accepted
yesterday by those familiar with tho CIrcum-
stances. 1t admitted that a fire had been
discovered under OF the bOardwalks at
SteepleChase Park Saturday afternoon, and
only the quick work or employees prevented a
panic among tho thousands OF lf-holiday Wis
itors. 1t also admitted that after this fire
George c. Tilyou. who owns the majority OF
stock In the SteepleChase Park Company. was
apprehensive that ne rested only after a thor
ough investigation satisfied him that no strang-
had In any way acted mysteriously about
the premises.
Mr.. Tily-u was awakened less than twelve
hours later by of his watChmen. 70 find the
whole place a mass OF flames II is the rapid
u yyif u-hi ha dIUa hat
strengthens the opinion of Mr. TiIyou and the
Fire Department authorities that some o-ie
seeking revenge applied the match which re
duced nearly quarter of Coney Island To ashes
and which may have cost a number of lives.
A corps of volunteers searched the field OF
charred wood all day yesterday and late last
night for the bodies of persons who II is feared
asleep in some of the hotels when the fire
occurred. While no bones have been found, the
belief that several persons perished is strong as
many laborers slept In secluded corners In the
hotels. These men come to the island from all
parts OF the country. and little is known about
them
While the searching parties were going over
the burned district gangs OF men employed
in erecting big board fence on the Surf avenue
side. The remaining portion of SteepleChase
Park is being made ready for Sunday when It
is expected that at least twenty y-flve shows will
be In operation
Plans are already being made by Mr. Tilyou
for a new resort which may grow out OF tho
ruins OF the old SteopIechase Park next season
Contrary TO the ruTuOrS that the park site will
be sold In building lots Mr Tilyou announced
that the park would be rebuilt 1t was also said
that well known amusement man. whose
shows now take up large part of Coney ISL
and would take UP the lease on the ground The
plans. however. not complete as a survey
Will have TO be made OF the property before 1t
can be determined what leases can be made
The fact that Coney Island came SO near
being wiped out removed the agitation for new
Sfo ted aPta H.;
fire. 1t was said that the construction of flirnsv
buildings would be stopped. Should a bill be
passed TO stop the construction of buildings such
now used it would probably Discourage
showmen from further investments in Conev
Island. II argued
Acting Borough President Dunno. of BROOKLYN
announced yesterday that he would GO before
the Board of Aldermen to-day and ask that the
Coney Island section be placed under the restric-
tions of the fire limits This would compel the
property owners in that section to erect freproof
structures or 10 sacrifice 20 per cent of their
ground space should they desire to build frame
structures. Two weeks ago Superintendent
Moore, of the building bureau suggested the
plan 10 Borough President Coler
Several Coney Island landowners applied M
the brooklyn bureau yesterday for permission to
buld. but the permits were withheld pending the
action of the Board of Aldermen
Deputy Fire Commissioner Charles & WIS.
and Deputy Chief Lally say that they will do
their utmost to have laws passed compelling the
erection of tireproof structures and the lavine of
concrete or brick walks. They are also I'm favor
or the widening of the walks leading 10 the
ocean.
III would be impossible to enact law +b,+
would place buildings at Coney Island ON the
same hreproof plan as city buildings" soId
Wlillam A Ellis. an amusement promoter ..yva
nave one hundred days each season I'm which 20
make our money, and when 1t is taken int CO..
sideration that the public wants new buTIdInrs
ana new show devices every season II can he
seen that we could never put up substantjaI
buildings such as used for theatres IN tbs
city" " 'i'0
Ahother way TO prevent the spread Of n bIe-
rre which was advanced by one Snowman ,ras
TO build number of fire walls so that Coney
Island would be practically In sections
III was frah brick filled wall on one side of n
grocery store on Surf avenue which Drsventad
the entire avenue from being fireswept The
wall blocked the progress of the blaze which
then ate its way down Kensington Walk and
along the Bowery, where another brick wall
changed its course toward Murrays Walk 10
Seaside Walk. where the big brick building oc
cupied by LcAis Stauch as a dance hall checked
the fire.
The crowd which gathered 70 visw the aeIa =,
/ ashes made yesterday one OF the hSsEest Mon.