New-York tribune., 1908-07-09
COLLEGE POINT SWEPT
FIRE BURNS Il BLOCK.
Summer Hotels and Cottages De-
strOyed-DamGge, S20O,O0O.

Fully block and half of summer hotels.
dancing and dining pavilons. bathing and boat
houses along the Flushing Bay front College
Point, Long Island. were destroyed by fire yes
terday, causing a total loss of more than $500
600 For intensity and rapidity the fire was a
record breaker.
Following the supposed explosion Of a gas
machine beneath the kitchen of zehden's Casino.
the main structure was destroyed in forty-1ve
minutes. The line of white painted buildings
that graced the shore front was swept COM
pletely away leaving nothing except the charred
piling The surrounding buildings were badly
scorched
Excited residents Of College Point who
thought the entire village was doomed crowded
the streets around the blackened sands. In the
throng were a score more of guests who had
been staying at the Casino and had lost all
their belongings. Among them were the wife and
family of Jacob Green one Of the new pro-
pretors of the Casino They not only lost all
their clothing but the fire spread rapidly that
Mrs Green in her anxiety over the safety Of
her children left jewelry valued at $4,000 in her
rooms Many of the diners who rushed out
when the blaze sprang up through the hoor
were hatless and coatiess.
While fire boats and volunteer hremen re-
sponded from all directions the fire swept along
with such rapidity that all they could do was to
save adjoining property. Yachts anchored off
the Knckerbocker Yacht Club house, some dis
tance away were threatened. while the big
wooden approach to the slip Of the New York
and College Point ferry dock caught fire
The flames ran out along the pier a boat
loaded with passengers was headed toward the
slip Quickly realizing the danger the captain
of the ferryboat backed out into the stream
where he remained until the fire was under con-
troll.
Blazing brands were carried through the air
bv the stiff breeze and more than one hundred
children of the Bethlehem Orphanage. a He
brew charity which stood a block away from
the flames were marched out OF the building and
kept under guard in the big yard surrounding
the Home until the danger was over.
From Zehden's Casino the flames swept
through Dondero's restaurant and bathing pa
viion burning them clean to the ground. Flames
leaped across the way to the Chiffon Paint
Works. which occupy a whole block, but they
escaped with a scorching. Riesenburgers Hotel,
diagonally opposite from the Casino, was badly
scorched, and small buildings in the yard were
destroyed Nearby factories closed down. while
their men turned out to fight the flames and the
flying sparks.
Above the roar of the blaze the College Point
iremen recognized the siren alarm whistle on
the plant of the American Hard Rubber Works.
about two blocks distant. These works stretch
along the waterfront for about two blocks 1t
was found that the roof of one of the big
factories had caught fire. but it was put out by
the factory fire brigade equipped with fire eX-
tinguishers.
While plenty Of narrow escapes were reported
on all Sides only four men were taken to the
Flushing Hospital They were Jacob Weiners,
first assistant fire chief. of College Point; Ed
oyo1,
Of Flushing and Frederick Lapp and Frank
Ferris. workrnen. All four were overcome by
smoke and heat but they were reported out OF
danger.