The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-29
CONEY ISLAND BLAZE
.~STEEPLECHASE PARK IS
NOW IN ASHES.
Salt Water Mains and Shifting Wind
Probably Saved other Amusement
Places from Destruction.

The fire started in the Cave Of the
Winds show at the north of steeple-
chase Park. The packing around a
motor Decame oyerheated and spread
fire to the himsy walls Of the building
before the young Waterman. Morris
Frost. could stop it. He was burned
severely. From the Cave Of the
Winds the flames jumped to steeple-
chase Pavilion. the ballroom and the
skating rink, then to the Coney Island
postoffice. eating up several little res
taurants along Surf avenue and then,
Following the direction of the wind, ran
rapidly southeast, burning the human
roulette wheel, the Satin Theatre. doz-
ems of chowder stands and eating
booths. crossed Tilyou's Walk, running
eastward, burned a block Of shacks be-
tween there and Kensington Walk,
Jumped that small p~assageway, cleaned
up the block west of Oceanic Walk,
kept right on, going faster and faster,
and finally ran up against the 'irewall
of Louis Stauch's big restaurant and
dancing hall at the Bowery and Seaside
Walk.
There the fremen had time to make
their battle count, and there practically
ended the fires course, although it
swerved back of Stauch's a little way,
burning the picnic pavilion, the baths
and a few small frame buildings up TO
Uncle Sans Cannon Ride, leaving the
enormous black annon somewhat
scorched and tilted. Fire Chiefs Lally
and Binns were able for the first time
to show what the new high-pressure
fire mains could do. There was a big
main In every little street in the burned
district, served by six twelve-inch pipes.
which in turn were fed by a great six
teen-inch main. If the wind had been
blowing from the sea or to the north
and east the fire might have gotten the
best of the hremen, but the VIM stayed
faithful until the fire was out; then,
curiously enough, 1t shifted around to
the southeast.
While the fight was IN hardest, about
8 o'clock, the fire produced a brilliant
spectacle which could be seen for many
miles around. There was a time, at
about 5 O'Clock, when 1t seemed as II
Luna Park and Dreamland, as well as
the main body of Coney Island, were
sure to catch 1t.
Mostaof the buildings burned were of
cheap, fimsy construction, light tim
bers, laths, a little plaster and much
paint and nvas
George c. Tilyou, the heaviest suf-
fSrer, may have lost 5000, 900. or even
$500, 900 worth of property, on which
there was no insurance.
II was hard luck for some of the
women who made their living on the
stages of the berry, smoky music halls,
and who were thrown out into the
Grove without a stitch to their backs
except the thin nightdresses they had
on. What little money they had saved
and the few tawdry belongings they
owned were burned up.
Few of the buildings were insured.
George Hoch, of the Arcade, figured his
loss at $50, 900; Louis Stauch, at $4,000;
Louis Lent, who lost a hotel and music
hall, at $50. 900; Arkenau Brothers, Of
the Oriole Hotel, al 100000; William G..
Ferris, at $50, 600, and there was a long
string of estimates, made by thirty or
more of the sufferers, bringing h fire
loss up to more than 81, 500. 900. Most of
them probably figured in the value Of
their real estate and their expecta-
'tions of profit for the season.