The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-07-31
CoNEY ISLAND FIRE-sWEPT.
More Than One Million Dollars
Worth of Property Destroyed.

More Than One Million Dollars
Worth of Property DESTROYED.
New York. July 2S.-Coney Island
the playground Of New York's mil
lions, was visited by disastrous fire
early today and seven blocks in the
amusement zone were completely de-
stroyed. TiIyou's Steeple Chase park
and nearly a score Of small hotels
were wiped out and for a time the
flames threatened destruction to Luna
Park and Dreamland, great homes OF
summer amusements and the scores
of smaller places which fringe the
waters edge for mile. A lucky
5 shift OF the wind to seaward aided the
hremen and probably saved the whole
picturesque area, but not until ST.
00o, 600 damage had been done.
Three persons were injured, one OF
them Gottfried Messerh, fireman,
probably fatally.
coney Island has had four big fires
in the last ten years, the last previous
one in 1908, the "Steeple Chase on
that occasion being swept out, as 1t
was today
.The Island" as New Workers fa-
niliariy called it, was just turning IN
for its early morning nap-the only
sleep it ever gets-and the last thin
line of Saturday night merrynakers
was swinging gailS if somewhat un-
certainly, up Surf avenue when Geo.
Frost. a watchman at Steeple Chase
park, spied wavering trail of smoke
coming from the Gave Of the
Winds one of the many shows in the
park. Scarcely had Frost bes1lrreo
himself TO action when a flash OF
fame shot out of the NAV of the cave
and lighted up the place in weird
gssre. Four alarms We're sounded,
! bringing scores OF engines and hose
carts to fight the flames now being
swept along under the smart west
wind. The infammable character OF
the wood, staff and .papiere maehe'
the constructive material Of many OF
the. attractions, made fine food for
the flames and Notwithstanding the
many streams of water poured on
them, the conhagration seemed to
defy all efforts to check its course up
the beach toward the Bowery and
to TIE countless amusement places
along Surf avenue.
The destruction Of Steepie Chase
park was spectacular sight
Tongues OF flames leaped hither and
thither licking up the scenic railway
the razzle-dazzle, the dancing pavil-
ion and the horse racing railway. The
little wooden horses standing on sh@
steel tracks high in the air looked
like. the flaming steeds Of the Valss-rs
as they broke mo blaze.
The great bell tower famed up
brilliantly, a bright beacon seen by
incoming ships. as they crep- up the
harbor in the early dawn. The steeple
Chase hotel and nearly score Of
smaller wooden hotels, which fronted
along the western SIDE of the park,
soon were blazing.
Fire Commissioner Lantry seeing
that nothing could be saved in the
park. ordered that ali efforts be con-
centrased on the east side Of the
Z farings blocks to keep the fire from
getting into the aimsy buildings in
the Bowery and thus making a fire
trail to Dreamland and Luna Park.
The fremen were massed at the en-
trance Of the Bowery and, although
a japanese skating rink, small
dance hall and a restaurant were de-
stroyee there, the fire was checked.
The wind had, in the meantime
switched TO the south and this favor
able slant of breeze aided the fire
fighters in conhning the fire to seven
blocks.
Tn alarm Of fire woke up dozine
Conev Island with q start and in
few minutes Surf avenue was jam
med with excited freaks and frolick-
ers. chorus girls, snake charrners, ami
nal trainers, performers, amusement
emplcyes-all the miscellaneous pop
ulation Of the island, in fact. Clothed
in a state of terror and little else
thousands fed through the streets
while the roar OF the flames could be
heard from one end Of the island te
the other. It seemed as though moth,
ing could save the island from de-
str.ction and hundreds of the inhabi-
tants began to remove their house.
hold effects into the streets. The po
I;oa order 70 clear the score Of hotels