New-York tribune., 1907-07-29

George G. T1lyOu, VINO owns nearly all the
stock in the Steeplechase Park Company, began
formulating plans for new resort while the
fire was still spreading
Before The last sparks had disappeared he
said: my troubles Of yesterday not my
troubles Of to-day, and my troubles Of to-day
not my troubles OF yesterday. This year
invested $4,000 In rebuilding SteepleChase
Park and the plant valued at S1.OO0,00O.
all of which is lost. The company which owned
and operated the park is composed OF members
of my family, and practically belongs to me.
We had the biggest crowd of the season yes
terday, and more than 100000 placed in
the safe at the close Of the day. This has been
recovered. the safe remained intact, and We
have things in such shape that at least
twenty-five shows will be running next Sunday.
Among these will be a new human roulette
wheel, which have already ordered.
1T impossible for TO insure the resort
because Of the high percentage After the last
big COney Island fire. when only n part of Stee-
plechase Park was burned, received less money
from the insurance company that had paid in
After that experience decided 10 take the
risk of loss by fire. The fact that nearly all
the buildings and the steeplechase were de-
stroyed does not worry me so much as the loss
Of the trees. which were feature Of the place
1 doing everything possible TO save the
trees but am afraid they are dead.
The Ferris wheel the Mediterranean voyage
and the Cyclone House. which were not de-
stroyed will be the foundation for the new
park, which will be kept open until the end OF
the season. The cause of the fire at such an
hour is beyond my conception. While l have re-
ceived many letters from persons who had been
discharged from my employ, or from alleged
Black Hand men, I am not sure that the place
was fired by an enemy The only solution which
I can offer is that the fire began in a room
where waste paper was stored under the Cave
Of the Winds and the steeplechase If that
was the case it must have been ignlted by
cigarette, carelessly thrown away.
while I realize that the loss is great l am
not ruined, and will surely continue IN the
amusement business in Coney Island That part
OF the park which left untouched by the
flames is rented property. and be reached
present only by crossing private property
thoroughfare through which was offered to me
to-day so that l do little business.
This park is the first resort OF its kind ever
attempted here. and it was my plan to make 1t
the most attractive feature at the seaside.
Since the fire began well known Coney
Island Snowman offered to join in rebuilding
Steeplechase Park for the next season. He will
have the first offer for the property, and when
things Strengthened out it is all un-
likely that greater resort will be presented to
the public.
When I laid out Steeplechase Park 1 took
into consideration what fire might do, and it
was therefor that l left the big open garden
in the middle. The garden is probably what
saved the west side of the resort from being
burned down"
After Mr. Tilyou had optimistically discussed
the future, he ordered signs be placed all
over the ruins. The signs cheerful that
the crowds about the ruins packed the only
shows left in the park Several tents We're
pitched for sausage stands and smaller shows,
and these were crowded together under the
temporary shelter Other tents were erected on
the beach.
Along Oceanic Walk in particular were cheap
hotels Of somewhat dubious character. Patrol
men jeff" Carney, Joe Handelberg and Peter
Masterson went through all these routing the
guests and driving them into the street Before
the last hotel emptied those near the head
Of the walk We're ablaze.
The fire burned around two sides OF Stauch's
and did little beyond burning one end of the
place slightly That's nothing, said Mr..
StauCh, he surveyed the ruin wrought upon
his neighbOrs L make up all that damage
in four hours and still he with last Sun
day on the receipts" Whether his prediction
was true or not, II seemed we'll based when the
crowd began to arrive for all focked TO the
scene of the fire That the Stauch
dancing pavilion saved is due to the work
OF Paddy Slattery, the head waiter there, who
kept the roof with line Of hose. He was
often hidden by the smoke and flames which
drifted across the roof. but he stayed there until
all danger was over.
a Chinaman, on Guey, in Kensington Walk,
had two hens for pets. They were all he saved
when he fed from the fire, and as he wandered
about in the crowd, which clad like him. IN
pajamas one woman called after him; You
ought TO be satisfied, John; your hens are all
there"
Les" said On Guey pretty soon I eatee her;
plentee chance flee coOkee her here"
Worlen clad only in nightgowns and short
jacke,s picked their way 10 the safety OF con-
venient saloons with parrots and dogs. all that
they had saved. A few canaries We're seem but
! only one cat. She ones pet, having
arisen without warning from the middle of the
! still burning park and run to the edge. She was
not q pretty pussy by that time, and no one saw
! At TO take pity on her until Captain Langan
| took her TO the police station for mascot.
/ When the news Of the fire reached Manhattan
! the rush to the island became almost unprece-
! dented. Long before daylight the crowds hur-
/ ried to the fire, which could be seen for miles
! around From Staten Island rowboats and
! launches carried passengers 10 the island while
| automobiles and vehicles Of every description
crowded the boulevard. Deputy Commissioners
O'Keeffe the fire from RockaWaE and
rushed in launch.
The report, current in Manhattan and other
! places where the fire could be seen. that the
! entire amusement part OF Coney Island was
| burning. made the rush great that extra cars
we're Immediately placed in service on the
| Brooklyn Rapid Transit system.
At the same time the police from seven pre-
cincts were sent 10 the island to prevent the bic
crowds from getting too near the burned district
At o'clock the crowds In Surf avenue were
/ larger than the p crowds on the big days
Every train and boat from that time brought
more persons, and by o'clock COney Island hal
sent all crowd records to smash. 1t esti-
mated by the police and railroad men that more
than 100000 persons viewed the devastated
| amusement grounds.
The police lines were spread along Surf ave
nue. and the Bowery as far Kensington Walk
and along the Bowery and the ocean as far as
! Oceanic Walk Outside these lines the crowd!
gathered all day, while others paid good prices
to view the burned districts from the windows
Of the hotels which had escaped the fire