Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-29

FIRE SWEEPS
GAY CONEY
MILLION LOST IN BLAZE AT
AMUSEMENT PARK
FREAKS HAVE NARROW ESCAPE
FROM DEATH
Daring Flame Eater Is One of the First
to Flee, While ArmIess and LegIess
Wonder Is Rescued "Wlthout
Loss of Life or Limb"
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
NEW YORK, July 2S.-Coney Island
was visited by disastrous fire early
today and seven blocks in the amusement
zone were destroyed.
The loss is estimated by the show men
at more than s1,000OOO. Tilyou's Steeple-
chase park and nearly a score of small
hotels were wiped out, and for time the
flames threatened the destruction of
Luna park and Dreamland. great homes
Of summer amusement, and the scores Of
edge for a mile. A lucky shift of the
wind to seaward aided the flremen and
probably saved the whole picturesque
area.
The destruction of Steeplechase park
was a spectacular sight. Tongues of
flames leaped hither and thither, licMng
UP the scenic railway, the razzle dazzle,
the dancing pavilion and the horse rae
ing railway. 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, or
dered that all efforts should be concen-
trated on the east slde of the flaming
blocks to keep the fire from getting into
the fiimsy buildings in the Bowery and
thus making a fire trail to Dreamland
and Luna park.
Firemen Make Stand
The firemen were massed at the en-
trance of the Bowery and although a
Japanese 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 favorable slant of breeze aided
the fire fighters in combining the fire to
seven blocks.
The alarm of fire woke up doing
Coney Island with a start and in few
minutes Surf avenue was jammed with
excited freaks and froickers, chorus
girls snake charmers animal trainers
performers, amusement employes-all the
miscellaneous population of the Island,
in fact.
Inside the burning island all was ex-
citement and confusion among the two
score employees who slept In house
near the entrance. Carrying grips and
luggage they scurried to the street. and
while the exodus was in progress, a cry
went up that Sandora, the armless and
leglpss man. who eats a dozen meals
a day just to show that he can do II
without the aid of arms and legs, was
missing Selling basket two employees
hurried back and found Sandora wlggllne
along the floor toward the ooor' Inc
wonder was piled into a basket, and
though the flames and smoke threatened
to engulf his rescuers, he was carried tc
a hotel. where he remarked that his es'
cape had been effected without the loss
of life or limb
The hotels burned like tinder, and
few minutes sufficed to wipe them ou'
cleani
Fire Eater Escapes
One of the first to escape from hi'
lodging place was Francesca, the hr'
eater. When things are calm and placit
francesca eats fire and breathes 1t fortf
again all for a livelihood. Sometimes M
is advertised to bathe in tongues Of
flames But todays conflagration wa:
too much even for Francesca, ana ne
wisely gave way to the firemen.
Arthur Lee, manager of Steeplechast
park. speaking for Mr.. Tilyou, said thai
the loss on the park which was com
plete;y destroyed, would reach SWO,OO
and there was no insurance.
The hotels destroyed were small ano
the property loss on them will not reach
more than 100000.
The police report three injured by the
fire.
Estimates of the total loss by the show
neople are somewhat in excess of the
figures set by the police and fire depart
ment. who say 100000 would be con-
servative estimate of the damage.