The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-29
Burned Over by an Early MOru-
ing COnflagratiOn.
AN EXODUS OF FREAKS
ArmleSs and LaglesS Man Car
ried Out in a Basket.
The Fire Eater Got More Than
He Could Stand.
The Loss Is Estimated at a
Million Dollars.

New York. July 29.-Coney Island
was visited by a disastrous fire early
Sunday and seven blocks in the
Amusement zone were destroyed.
The loss is estimated by the show
men at more than $1,000,000.
Tilyou's steeplechase park and near
ly a score of small hotels were wiped
out. and for a time the flames threat
ened destruction to Luna park and
Dreamland. great homes of summer
amusement, and the scores of smaller
places which firing the waters edge
for mile. A lucky shift of the wind
TO seaward aided the firemen and
probably saved the whole picturesque
area
The destruction of steepIechase
park was spectacular sight.
Tongues of flame feaped hither and
thither, licking up the scenic railway,
the razZle dazzle, the dancing pavil-
lon and the horse racing railway. The
steeplechase and 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-
Ncentrated on the east side Of the fam
&lg blocks. to keep the fire from get
ing into the flimsy buildings in the
to Dreamland and Luna park. The
hremen were massed at the entrance
or the bowery and although a Japan
ese skating rink. a small dance hall
there the fire was checked. The wind
had in the meantime switched into
the south and this favorab BILE slant of
breeze aided the fire fighters in con-
hnfng the fire to seven blocks
The alarm of fire woke up doing
Coney Island with start and in a
few minutes Surf avenue was jammed
with excited freaks and froIickers I
chorus girls snake charmers. animal
trainers, performers, amusement en-
ployes-a1l the miscellaneous popu-
lation of the island in fact
Carried Out in Basket.
Inside the burning park all was ex-
cttement and confusion among the two
score employees who slept in a house near
the entrance. Carrying grips and lug
gage they scurried to the street and
while the exodus was in progress a cry
went mp that SandOra, the armless and
legless man who eats a dozen meals a !
day just to show that he can do it
without the aid of arms and legs. was
missing Selling basket, two employees
hurried back and found Sandora wig
Cling along the floor toward the door.
The wonder was piled into a basket
and though flames threa tened to enguIf
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 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 ard placid.
Francesca eats fire and breathes 1t forth
again, all for livelihood. Some times
he is advertised to bathe in tongues
Of flames. But the confiagra ton was
too much even for Francesca. and he
wisely gave way to the firemen.
The fire put small dance halls and
bathing pavilions out of business and
many sandwich men and frankfurter
purveyors who stored their stands and
carts in hooks and crannies between
buildings lost everything
Arthur Lee, manager of Steeplechase
park, speaking for Mr.. Tilyou, said that
the loss on the park which was complete
ly destroyed would reach $1,000, 900 and
there was no insurance.
The destroyed hotels were small and
the property loss will not reach much
over $100. .0o0
The police report three injured by the
fire: Gottgried Messerli. a fireman,
struck by falling cornice: Sylvester
Need, slightly burned and Frank
&ranklin. also burned. The Coney Is
land 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 di-
rected the fight said later that over $780,
900 would be q conservative estimate of
the damage.