The Washington herald., 1907-07-29

New York. July 29-Coney Island was
as gay as ever tonight, despite The de-
structiye fire OF the early morning. which
burned over the ground along the ocean
front from steeplechase Park TO Hen
derson's Walk. consisting Of twenty-five
acres, destroying a number Of frail,
himsy hotels and amusement places.
It was the third disastrous fire IN eight
years.
All that saved the city by the sea was
fortunate shift Of the wind and the
new system Of high-pressure salt water
mains
The fire viii cost the lives Of three
men and perhaps damaged or destroyed
property 70 the extent of sl.000O0.
The fire broke out at / o'clock In the
morning in steeplechase Park. Few peo-
pie were about at the time. The flames
spread with incredible swiftuess until
there was an area Of FIRE 100 feet long
over the front Of steepIechase Park.
clearly lighting up Surf avenue and the
Bowery. Policemen on duty sent in an
alarm. The fire engines quickly re-
sponded.
Crazy with Fright.
IN half an hour after the breaking out
Of the fire that section OF the island
where the flames were jumping was
slambang crazy with fright FOR the time
being. Men who laughed about Il after
ward did foolish things. clear out Of
their heads for the moment. like wrap /
ping pet monkey up in a coverlet and
carrying It TO the police station. think
ing it was a baby; turning the hose on
a plano which stood safely enough two
hundred yards from the fire lines. or de- !
manding Of a profane and frightened poll
parrot what It had done with a pocket
book
Every narrow little street and alley I
way in the path Of the rushing flames /
was elOgged by men and women. who /
laughed. and cursed. and cried. and
screamed. out OF sheer excitement. as
they labored desperately 10 get their be- 4
longings carted or carried out Of dan /
ger. The fremen and police had some 4
difficulty IN driving them away. Those 4
who were burned out. and many more
We're taken care Of in the best way cir /
.cumstances allowed 5y their more for 4
tunate ncighbors
Rake Hufns for SAFES
Despite the panic and excitement and
the chance Of robbery. on every side. there /
were few cases Of theft reported 20 the
police. There was much poking and
scraping and turning over of hot ashes
this afternoon when the burned-out hotel
keepers and showmen hunted for money
they had left In safes and boxes.
George c. TilyOu. owner of St4epIechase
Park, found his safe all right. but #
was too hot to-day 10 open. He hoped
that Saturdays receipts, somerning Ike
S2oooo. he said, would be good currency
when he got to them.
Nike Ferris, who runs a little hotel
near the Bowery. was stnl looking for his
safe this afternoon. Nike acted as banker
for dozen little showmen ir the neigh
borhOOd, and they ali handed him their
receipts late Saturday night. lie thought
he had about S15,Oo0 IN the box # it had
not been stolen One little Snowman. Rill
Webber. was not so lucky A chamois
bag containing S125 went up in smoke.
Starts In Cave of Winds.
The fire started in the Cave of the
Winds show. at the north Of Steeple-
chase Park. The packing around a motor
became overheated and spread fire TO the
fiimsy walls of the building before the
watchman, Morris Frost. could stop it.
He was burned severely.
From the "Cave of the Winds" the
flames jumped to Steeplechase Park. the
ballroom, and the skating rink: then to
the Coney Island post-office, eating I'D
several little restaurants along Surf ave
nue., and then, following the direction OF
the wind. ran rapidly southeast. burning
the Human Roulette Wheel the Sati-.
Theater. and dozens Of chowder stands
and eating booths.
Then the flames crossed TflyOu's walk. l.,
running eastward, burned a block of !
shacks between there and Kensineton
walk, jumped that small passage,rav.
SiSat4tu up lHe b40Ck west OF Oceanic
walk, kept right on going faster and ,
finally ran up against the fire wall OF
Louis Stauch's big restaurant and dance
hall at the Bowery and Seaside walk
There the fire was halted and there
the flames practically ended. although it
sweryed back Of Stauchs a little way.
burning the picnic pavilion, the baths. /
and few small frame buildings up to I
Uncle Sans Cannon Ride. leaving the I
enormous black cannon somewhat
scorched and tilted.
Luna Park Anxious.
While the fight was hardest. about
o'clock, the fire produced a brilliant spec-
tacle, which could be seen for many
miles around. There was a time. at about ,
.. when IT seemed as if Luna Park and
as well as the main BODY of :
Coney, were sure 70 catch it, Fred.
Thompson, owner Of Luna Park. had 1Go {
of his employees at fire quarters from
the start, ready with fifty lines Of hose
and Lunas own fire apparatus to get
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