The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-07-29
Swept Over a Portion of
COney Island, N. Y.
LOSS IS 100000.
Seven Blocks in the Amusement
Zone of the Island We're De-
StrOyed in Short Order.

New York July 29.--Couey Island,
the playground of New York's mill
lions, was visited by a disastrous fire
early Sunday and seven blocks in the
amusement zone were completely de.
stroyed. Tiyou's Steeplechase park
aud nearly a score OF small hotels
were wiped ont and for a time the
flames threatened destruction to Luna
park and Dreamland, great homes Of
summer amusement, and the scores
of smaller places which fringe the
waters edge for a mile. lucky shift
of the wind to seaward aided the fire
men and probably saved the whole
ared, but not until 100000 damage
had been done. Three persons were
injured, one Of them Gottenried Mes.
serli, fireman, probably fatally.
Only the advance guard of the 800.
600 people who Aocked to Coney Isl.
and saw the fire. but the thrilling
tales of the fearless rescue of San
Dora, the afmless and legless man,
and the flight of francesca, the fire
eater, when the alarm was sounded
was told and retold along noisy Surf
avenue 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 swept out as it
was Sunday.
The island" as New Workers call
IT, was just turning in for its early
morning nap--the only sleep it ever
gets-and the last thin line of Satur.
day night merry makers was going
up Surf avenue when George Frost.
watchman at Steeplechase park, spied
a trail of smoke coming from the
Cave Of the Winds" one of the many
shows in the park. Scarcely had
Frost bestirred himself to action
when fash of flame shot out of the
nav of the cave and lighted up the
place. A patrolman heard the urgent
cry of fre-for the shout OF fire in
Coney Is an ominous one-alarm af
ter alarm was rang until the fourth
had been sounded, bringing scores OF
engines and hose carts to fight the
flames.
The inhammable material of the
many 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 90 |
the countless amusement places along |
Surf avenue.
The destruction of Steeplechase
park was spectacular sight. |
Tongues of flames Ieaped hither and
thither, licking up the scenic railway, |
the razzle dazzle, the dancing pavll.
ion and the horse racing railway.
The great bell tower hamed bril- |
liantly up-a bright beacon seen by
incoming ships as they crept up the
harbor in the early dawn. The
Steeplechase hotel and nearly a 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 all efforts be con.
centrated on the east side of the fam.
ing blocks 10 keep the fire from get
ting into the fimsy buildings in the
Bowery and thus making a fire trail
To Dreamland and Luna park The
firemen were massed at the entrance
OF the Bowery and although Jap
anese skating rink, a small dance hall
and a restaurant were DESTROYED
there, the fire was checked The wind
had, In the meantime switched to the
south and this aided the fire fighters
IN connning the tire TO seven blocks.