Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-07-29
CONEY ISLE ABLAZE|
New York's Playground Has
 Million Dollar Fire.
STEEPLECHASE PARK WIPED OUT.
Seven Blocks In Amusement Zone Completely Destroyed Flames Chase Natives Out In
 Costume, ...

AilHouS, WdS flSlleu Dy ulSdSlFOuS
 fire at an early hour, and seven blocks
 In the amusement zone were complete
 ly destroyed. Tilyou's Steeplechase
 park and nearly score of small ho-
 tells were wiped out, and for a time
 the flames threatened destruction to
 Luna park and Dreamland, those homes of summer amusement, and the scores of smaller places which fringe the waters edge for mie
 A lucky shift of the wind to sea ward aided the firemen and probably saved the whole picturesque area, but not until million dollars damage had
 been done. Three persons were in- jured, one of them, Gottfried MesserIi, a fireman, probably fatally.
 Only the advance guard of the 300,- | GOO people who fiocked to Coney Is- land saw the fire, but the thrilling tales of the fearless rescue of San Dora, the armless and legless man, and the flight of Francesca, the fire eater, when the alarm was sounded were told and retold along noisy Surf ave- nue and in the less particular Bowery.
 Coney Island has had four big fires in the last ten years, the last previous one in 1903. the Steeplechase on that occasion being completely swept out.
 ''The Island," as New Workers fa- miliarly call 1t, was just turning in for it's early morning nap-the only sleep it ever gets-and the last thin line of early morning merrymakers were swinging gayly if somewhat un- certainly up Surf avenue when George Frost, a watchman at Steeplechase park, spied a wavering trail of smoke coming from the Cave of the Winds" one of the many shows in the park. Scarcely had Frost bestlrred himself to action when flash of flame shot ] out of the maw of the cave and lighted up the place in weird glare. A pa- trolman heard the urgent cry of fire for the shout of fire in Coney is an ominous one-alarm after alarm was rung until the fourth had been sound- ! ed, bringing scores of engines and hose carts to fight the flames now be- ing swept along under the smart west wind.
 The destruction of Steeplechase park was a spectacular sight. Tongues of flame leaped hither and thither, lick ing up the scenic railway, the razzle dazzle, the dancing pavilion and the horse racing railway. The little wood- en horses, standing on steel tracks high in the air, looked like the flaming steeds of the Valkyrs as they broke Into blaze. The great bell tower famed brilliantly up, a bright beacon seen by incoming ships as they crept up the harbor in the early dawn. The steeple- chase hotel and nearly a score of small CT wooden hotels which fringed along the western side of the park soon were blazing.
 When the alarm woke up dozing Coney with a start Surf avenue was soon jammed with excited freaks and frollickers, chorus girls, snake charm CTS, animal trainers, performers, amusement employees-all the miscel- llItbus ul iht HI 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 to the other. It seemed as though nothing could save the island from distraction, and hundreds of the inhabitants began to remove their household effects into the streets.
 Inside the burning park all was ex- citement and confusion among the twoscore 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 cry went up that San Dora, 1 the armless and legless man. who eats a dozen meals a day to show that he l can do 1t without the aid of arms and | legs, was missing. Selzing a basket, two employees hurried back and found San Dora wiggling along the floor toward the door. "The Wonder was piled into a basket and. though the flames and smoke threatened to engulf his rescuers. he was carried to a 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 sufficed to wipe them out clean.
 One of the first to escape from his lodging place was Francesca. the fire eater When things are calm and placid Francesca eats fire and breathes 1t forth again. all for a livelihood. Sometimes he is advertised to bathe in tongues of flame. but the confiagra- ton was too much even for Francesca. and he wisely gave way to the fire men.
 Arthur Lee. manager Of Steeplechase park. speaking for Mir Tilyou. said that the loss on tho park. which was completely destroyed. would reach ST. OO0.O00. and there was no insurance. The hotels destroyed were small. and the property loss on them will not reach much over S1O0O00.
 
 Selling Water m Long Island.