The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-07-29
Seven Blocks in the Amusement
Zone Completely Destroyed
By Fire.
ESTIMATED LOSS 100000
A Fortunate Change i'm the Direction
of the Wind Avcrtcd Further
Damage.
(By the Associated Press J


NEW YORK, July 2S.-Coney Is
land was visited by a disastrous fire
early today and seven blocks in the
amusement zone were destroyed. The
loss is estimated by the showmen at
more than 81 100000. Tilyou's
Steeplechase Park and nearly a score
OF small hotels We're wiped out and
Tor time the flames threatened the
destruction of Luna Park and
Dreamland, great homes of summer
amusement, and the scores of small
er places which fringe the waters
edge for a mile. A lucky shift of
the wind to seaward aided the fire.
men and probably saved the whole
picturesque area.
The destruction of SteeDlechase
Park presented a spectacular scene.
Tongues of flame leaped hither and
thither, licking up the scenic rail
way, the Razzle Dazzle, the Dancing
Pavilion and the Horse Racing Rail
way. The Steeplechase and Hotel
and nearly score of smaller wooden
hotels which fronted along the west
ern side of the park soon were blaz-
ing.
Fire Commissioner Lantry, seeing
that nothing could he saved in the
park, ordered that all efforts be con-
centrated upon the east side of the
blazing blocks to keep the fire from
getting into the flimsy buildings in
the bowery and thus making a fire
trail to Dreamland and Luna Parks.
The firemen were massed at the en-
trance of the bowery and although a
Japanese skating rink, a small dance
hall and restaurant were destroyed
there, the fire was checked. The
wind had in the meantime switched
to the south and this favorable slant
of the breeze aided the fire fighters
in confining the fire to seven blocks.
The alarm of fire woke up doing
Coney Island with a start and in a
few minutes Surf avenue was jam
med with excited freaks and frolick
erS, chorus girls, snake charmers,
animal trainers, performers, amuse
ment emplOyes-all the miScel-
laneous population of the island, in
fact.
Inside the burning park all was
excitement and confusion among the
two score employees who slept in Il
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 San
dora, the armless and legless man,
who eats dozen meals a day just
/ to show that he can do it without the
aid of arms and legs, was missing.
Selling a basket, two employees hur-
ried back and found Sandora wig
| Cling along the floor toward the
door The wonder" was piled into
basket, and though the flames and
smoke threatened to engulf his res
cuers, he was carried to hotel,
where he remarked that his escape
had been effected without the loss
of life or limb"
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 for a liveli-
hood. Sometimes he is advertised to
bathe in tongues of flame. But to-
days confiagration was too much
even for Francesca and he wisely
| gave way to the firemen.
Arthur Lee, manager of Steeple-
chase Park, speaking for Mr.. Tilyou,
said the loss on the park, which was
completely destroyed, would reach
$1,000, 900. and there was no insur-
| ance.