The sun., 1907-08-14
Big SUMMER HOTEL BURNS
the BROOKLYN's 2JO "a ESTS SAVE
ONLY,IJ TRUNKS.


u DcstrOyeO IN Twemty WtnWtee-Ftrr
starts Near ;hc Top snss Everybody Gets
Out .-IIotel's Loss Nearly 500. 900.
CENTER MoRIcHEs. l.. l.. Aug. is.-The
Hotel Brooklyn. one OF the largest hotels
in Suffolk county. burned to the ground
here tonight. About two hundred and
fifty guests were staying in the hotel. but
all got out and no one was injured. Few,
however. saved anything but the clothing
they had on.
The fire was discovered about 0 O'Clock
just as the dancing was starting. II
Guests on the floor below smelled smoke
and heard the cracking Of flames above
them. They gave an alarm as they fed
and Chief Clerk Billings directed the efforts
Of the comparatively few men guests and
Of the help who tried to check the fire with
buckets of water.
Employees ran among the people down.
stairs trying TO quiet them. and the orchestra
continued playing. though several Of the
musicians stood and watched the door
in their rooms and who made a frantic
dash for the stairways we're held in check.
and all got down without serious accident.
though many fell as they stepped on the
trailing dresses on the stairs.
The fire ate it's way down through the
building very rapidly and the roar Of il
could be heard above the noise Of the hurry
ing. frightened people. Some Of the women
who rushed downstairs at the first alarm
tried to return to their rooms 10 get be-
longings, but others coming down pushed
them back. crying out that danger was
right behind them. By the time all had
reached the ground floor the whole build
ing was afiame, lighting the cottages and
casting it's yellow. tumbling reflection on
the waters Of the bay.
The hotel was n four story frame struc-
ture. II was lighted by acetylene gas. and
the gas added fuel to the flames Twenty
minutes after the fire was discovered there
was nothing left Of the big building but the
smouldering. ash filed basement walls. II
had stood on the waterfront. n nile and
a half from the village OF Center Moriches.
The village has no wafer supply and the
fire department consists only Of a volun-
teer bucket brigade and hook and adder
truck.
The firemen hurried to the scene from
the village in response to a telephone call,
but the hotel was about gone when they
arrived and they directed their efforts to
keep the flames from several smaller build
ings near by, Part OF these were saved.
but the largest. the hotel annex, where
were located the bsrroom. billiard and
bowling rooms. burned.
Many of the women guests we're in even
ing dress and had no time to get other
clothins Those in their rooms ran out
in pettiooats, kimonos and other oorts Of
neglgee Some Of them had narrow
escapes from sufocation. A Mrs. Halliday
OF Brooklyn waited to save some Of her
belongings and the flames we're upon her
before she could get through the hall Her
dress caught fire, but was put out by some
one who WAS near md she sustained no
injury
One young girl about IA years old ran
up from the ground Moo 70 arouse her
mother, who she knew was asleep in her
room. Mother and daughter got down the
stairs in the nick of time. The fire starting
from the top Of the building enabled all 20
get out through the halls without having
recourse to the outside fire escapes
o. w. Hall. who lives at the Ansonia,
in Manhattan, was in his room when he
heard the alarm. With him was his small
baby. Mr.. Hall ran downstairs with the
child and then tried to return for some
valuable papers which were in a trunk
in his room. He could not get back up
stairs. for those stairoases that we're not
burning were showcred with flaming wood
and sparks and filled with smoke
Residents Of the village opened their
homes 20 the guests and the Beach View
Hotel and tho East Bay Club house both
offered shelter to them. AL the guests are
cared for tonight. II is considered re-
markablc that no one was hurt. There
were several theatrical people staying at tho
hotel. Most Of these were befriended by
other people Of the profession who occupy
cottages near by,
Among the guests we're Daniel 4. Shee-
han, Mr.. and Miss Pillet, II. c. Wicker.
William A. Meredith. Mr.. and Mrs. j. c.
Dodge. Dorothea Dodge. Miss Derls. s. l..
Holland. Mrs. Holland. Miss Holland. Jo-
seph Rollins and John s. Newman OF New
York and DR.. Ealer and his wife and mother
OF Philadelphia.
Tho hotel building was owned by Bishop
and Hallock, business men OF this village.
The lessee was Frank NJ. Rogers, who is
also lessee Of the Hotel Regent. New York
he loss. including furniture. is estimated
at etween $4,000 and 100000. No esti-
mate Of the loss to guests is possible tonight.
IL is certain to be large, as most OF them
lost all their valuables Only fifteen trunks
could be carried out before the flames were
roaring in every part OF the hotel A number
of automobiles and other vehicles were
stored in q building near the hotel. but they
were all saved.
The hotel was built about twelve years
ago. and was Of Queen Anne design. IL
had accommodations for 800 guests.
1t would seem that every one has a diff
feront cause 10 assign for the fire. One
is thst children were playing with matches.
anot her that the fire started In the Laundry,
which was at the end of the building and