Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-26
AN ENTIRE BLOCK
SWEPT BY A FIRE
Hotels, Stores and Cafes at
Pine Beach, Va, Burned.
NEAR EXPOSITION SITE
Loss Placed Between 100000 and
$25O,000.
MANY BUILDINGS THREATENED
Nearly Fifty Structures Destroyed.
Probably 1000 People Homeless.
Started in Berkeley.

Beach section, Immediately adjoin-
ing the Jamestown Exposition
grounds, was swept by fire early
today, the area burned being be-
tween the exposition grounds on
the west extending to the Pine
Beach Hotel and from the car
track running from the exposition
grounds west to the original Pine
Beach pier to the water on the
north
The big Arcade Hotel, the Berk-
ley Hotel. Out Side Inn, Powhatan
Hotel, Caroline Hotel, several other
smaller hotels, and {. large part of
the outside warpath were de-
stroyed. The loss may run up to
100000, with very little insurance.
Special Dispatch TO The Star
JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION, Va, June
26.-Pine Beach. just outside of the EXPOSE
ton grounds, is being swept off the map
by a very destructive fire The fire started
in one of the cheap hotels at $50 o'clock
this morning, and is rapidly devastating
the town of Pine Beach. The negro build
ing on the exposition grounds had very
narrow escape, and the Inside Inn Is In
great danger. The fire is famed by a
building TO building at rate that defies the
exposition fire department., which is doing
all In its power to fight the flames. The
buildings all of yellow pine construc-
ton, and nothing is more infammable, as
II is rich with pitch.
No lives are known to be lost but the loss
of property will be immense. as there is
no insurance owing to the lack of fire pro-
lection. A great deal of liquor in the large
number of saloons is adding to the danger
by making the progress of the fire more
rapid, detonations from bursting barrels of
liquor being frequent and loud.
Already more than two blocks of hotels,
boarding houses and saloons have gone up
in smoke. and the fire is being swept along
at terrible pace.
NORFOLK, Va, June 26.-Fire early to-
day at Pine Beach, a resort filled with
hotels of varying size, restaurants, stores
and places of amusement just outside the
jamestown exposition grounds, destroyed
frame structures covering a large area in
the territory between Virginia and Mary
land avenues and 102d and 1O3d streets,
including Exposition avenue. This district
is Immediately the outside OF the west
ern fence of the exposition grounds, ex-
tending TO point near the Pine Beach
Hotel and north to Hampton roads from
the trolley track which runs from the
exposition fence at Maryland avenue to
the original Pine Beach pier at the mouth
OF the Elizabeth river. The cause OF the
IRE Is as yet unknown. The loss is placed
at between 10000 and $50. Zoo, with about
70 per cent insurance. the high rates having
been almost prohibtive for the taking OF
large risks ON the frame structures. 1t is
reported that two lives were lost, but this
has not been confirmed.
The Inside Inn and the Kentucky state
building on the western side OF the expo
sltlon grounds, as well the negro build
ing and auNlliaries thereto, We're threatened
for time. owing To the wind, but the fire
reached nothing inside OF the grounds.
Some Large Buildings Burned.
The Arcade, Royal Pine, Hampton Roads
Washington House, Outside Inn, Powhatan
Carolina and Berkeley hotels were among
the largest buildings destroyed The States
Hotel was not reached and the Pine
Beach Hotel was not in immediate danger
The Powhatan guards and the exposition
fire department did splendid work in pre-
venting the fire from spreading beyond
the boundary in which II was finally con-
fined and burned itself out
About the only buildings saved within the
led he
Graystone Inn and California Franks
buffet, all on lO2d street.
The I'D United States Infantry was or
dertd out, and the entire district west of
the exposition grounds. reaching to the
States Hotel. Is under its protection.
Between forty and fifty structures were
consumed, and probably Loco people are
The blaze originated in the Berkeley Hotel
Oh lU2d street
The destroyed buildings were of tempo
rary construction, the Arcade Hotel. with
2Sc rooms, being the largest and costliest
representing an investment. including fur
niture and equipment. of $4,000.
Unknown Negro Burned to Death.
During the great Pine Beach fire early
today c. Adler of Chicago rescued an I'M
known woman from the Arcade Hotel while
the latter was burning who might have
persisted but for the bravery OF the Chi
cagoan. An unknown negro was burned 70
death in a shack near the Hotel Suffolk
during the fire.
Assistant Secretary Edwards of the
jamestown tercentennial commission today
received several kilograms announcing
destructive fire just outside the exposition
grounds The first telegram was from w.
NJ. GeGdes, assistant secretary of the
jamestown tercentennial commission say
ing:
bad fire just outside of grounds at Pine
Beach. Negro building barely escaped de-
struction."
The second telegram was from Thos. ].
Galloway. chairman of the jamestown
negro exhibit