Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-29
CONEY. ISLAND.
SWEPT BY
FLAMES
MILLION DOLLAR LOSS
IN AMUSEMENT RESORT
Wild Panic Among MiSceIIan-
eOus Assortment of Freaks,
Snake Charmers, Etc., in
Famous Pleasure Ground.

IBy Morning Journal Special Leased wIreI
New York, July 2S.-Coney Island
was visited by a disastrous fire early
today and seven blocks in the amuse-
ment zone were destroyed.
The loss is estimated by the show
men at more than 81 100000. Tily-
Gus Steeplechase park and nearly a
score of small hotels were wiped out
and for time the flames threatened
destruction TO Luna park and Dream
land. A lucky shift of the wind to
seaward aided the firemen and prob
ably saved the entire amusement
area.
The destruction of Steepechase
park was spectacular sight. Tongues
Of flames leaped hlther and thither.
licking up the scenic railway, the raz-
zle-dazzle, the dancing pavilion and
the horse racing railway The Steeple--
chase 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 dhe east side of the burn
ing blocks, to keep the fire from get
ting into the flimsy buildings In the
Bowery. The firemen were massed at
the entrance of the Bowery. and al
though Japanese skating rink.
small dance hall and a restaurant
were destroyed there, the fire was
checked. The wind had in the mean
time switched into the south. and this
aided the fire fighters In combining the
fire to seven blocks.
ha nj NE oh 4
Coney Island with a start, and In
few minutes Surf avenue was iammed
with excited freaks and frolllckers.
chorus girls. snake charmers, animal
trainers, performers, amusement en-
pl0yes--all the miscellaneous pupula-
tlon Of the island, In fact.
Armlcss Wonder Escapes JinhuPt.
Inside the burning park all was ex-
element and confusion among the two
score employees who slept IN house
near the entrance, Carrying grips
/ aud mggage my aCtfifca to tnS
street. and while the exodus was In
progress a cry went up that Sandora.
the armless and legless man, who eats
a dozen meals day Just to show that
he can do Ii without the aid of arms
and legs. was missing. Selling a bas-
ket. two employees hurried back and
found Sandora 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 10
a hotel where he remarked that his
escape had been effected without the
loss of life or limb"
Hotels Burn like TindeF.
The hotels burned like tinder, 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 It forth again, all for a live
llhood. Sometimes he Is advertised to
battle In tongues of flames But to-
days conflagratlon was too much
even for Francesca. and he wisely
gave way TO the firemen.
The fire put many small dancing
halls and bathing pavillons out Of
business and the many sandwich men
who store their stands In many crooks
and erannies between buildings, lost
everything.
Arthur Lee. manager OF steeple-
chase park, speaking for Mr.. Tllyou,
said the loss on the park. which was
completely destroyed, would reach
100000. and said there was no In
surance.
The police report three injured by
the fire, Giffreld Messerlll. a fireman,
struck by a falling cornlee: Sylvester
Mead. slightly hurt. and Frank
Franklington, also burned. The coney
Island postoffice was damaged,
Estimates of the total loss made by
the show people are somewhat In ex-
cess Of the figures set by the police
and fire departments. The fire chief
who directed the fight said later that
over s200,000 would be a conserva-
tive estimate Of the damage.