Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-07-31
.CONEY
ISLAND
FIRE SWEPT BLOCKS OF
FAMOUS RESORT.
SHOWMEN ESTIMATE LOSS Al
MORE THAN ONE MILLION
DOLLARS.

NeW 1OTh, July oU.-COuey lSlanO
was visited by a disastrous fire early
Sunday and seven blocks in the amuse
ment zone were destroyed.
The loss is estimated at more than
81 100000. Tilyous steeplechase
park and nearly score of small
hotels were wiped out, and for a time
the flames threatened the destruction
of Luna park and Dreamland, great
homes of summer amusement, and the
scores of smaller places which fringe
the waters edge for a mile. A lucky
shift of the wind to seward aided the
firemen and probably saved the whole
picturesque area.
The destruction of Steeplechase park
was spectacular sight. Tongues of
flames leaped hither and thiter, lick.
ing up the scenic railway, the razzle
dazzle, the dancing pavilion and the
horse racing railway. The steeple.
chase and the hotel and nearly a score
OF smaller wooden hotels which front
ed along the western side of the
park were soon blazing.
Fire Commissioner Lantry, seeing
that nothing could be saved in the
park, ordered that all efforts be con-
centrated on the east side of the
flaming blocks, to keep the fire from
getting into the flimsy buildings in the
Bowery, and thus making a fire trail
to Dreamland and Luna park. The
flremen were massed at the entrance
to the Bowery, and, although a Jap
anese skating rink, small dance hall
and restaurant were destroyed there
the fire was checked. The wind had
in the meantime switched to the south
and this favorable slant of the breeze
enabled the fire fighters to confine
the fire to seven blocks.
The alarm of fire woke doing Coney
Island with a start, and in a few
minutes Surf avenue was damned with
excited freaks and frolickers, chorus
girls, snake charmers, animal trainers,
performers, amusement employes-all
the miscellaneous population of the is
land, in fact.
Inside the burning park all was ex-
citement and 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,
a cry went up that Sandora, the arm
less and Iegless man, who eats doz-
en- meals a day Just to show that he
can do it without the aid Of arms and
legs, was missing. Selling baskets,
two employees hurried back and found
Sandora wriggIing along the floor to-
ward the door. The wonder was
piled into a basket and through the
flames and smoke threatened to en-
gulf his rescuers, he was carried to
q hotel. where he remarked that his
escape had been effected without the
loss Of life or limb"
The hotels burned like finder and a
few minutes sufflced to wipe them out
clean.
One of the first to escape from his
lodging place was Francesca, fire eat
er. When things are calm and placid
francesca eats and breathes It
forth again, ali for a livelihood. Some
times he is advertised to battle in
tongues Of flames But Sundays con-
flagration was too much even for
francesca and he wisely gave way
to the firemen.
Arthur Lee, manager of Steeplechase
park, speaking for Mr.. Ti1you. said
that the loss on the park, which was
completely destroyed, would reach ST.
000, 900, and there was no Insurance.
The hotels destroyed were small
and the property loss on them will not
reach more than 100000.
The police report three injured by
the fire.
Estimates of the total loss by the
show people are somewhat in excess
Of the figures set by the police and
fire departments, who say that $780,
900 would be q conservative estimate
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