Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-07
POM Comfort Tavern
BURNED 70 GROUND
EDRAn -
inmetss Frame Hotel Structure
Il oId Point Totally Co1:umsd By
Flames Yesterday Afternoon.
asIsT
Loss MIL Reach SUN OF $4,000
tiotea. Which Was Built as an Annex
20 the chamberIin Hotel During the
jamestown Exposition Period, Was
owned by a Stock Company MADE
up of Well Known Local Men.
A - n

In less than an hour yesterday
afternoon the Poynt Comfort Tavern
the mommoth frame structure ON the
Old Point reservation, used as an an
mex to the Hotel Chamberlain DURING
the jamestown Exposition, was trans
termed from most imposing, three
story building to huge pile OF he-
bis and ashes by fire, the origin Oh
(. w.hichs will never likely be solved.
With the destruction Of the plila-
ing comes total loss OF nearly
$4,000 to many business men IN
HAMPTON and Newport News. as the
hotel was owned by a stock compa.
nv made up OF the best known loca.
men, Besides the hotel building the
small one story frame building
,,sed as a restaurant during the pr ROD
Of the Exposition was consumed by
the flames, while stored away III .he
restaurant was large amount OF fur'
niture. which was the private proper
ty of Mr.. Howard w. Saunders. VINO
q IL also the secretary and treasurer
OF the Poynt Comfort Tavern Inn
Company.
Mr.. Saunders last night stated thai
sthere was no insurance carried on
tho property ard gave the following
estimate OF the damage and loss I"
the men interested in the company:
Hotel building. $4,000.
Restaurant building, $500.
Furniture in restaurant, $1,1OO.
Total losses, $4,000.
The burned hotel building was a
frame structure Of three stories ana
contained besides the kitchen. dining
room, closets. toilets and other smai'
rooms, 22s good sized bed rooms. The
h,fflding WAS erected along substantial
lines. although 1t was intended only
cor Temporary use during the EXPOSE
fion neriod. The attractive furniture
was cold By the company several
months back and there was nothing
Of value In the hotel interior.
The fire was discovered by the
guard on duty near the Mill Creek
entrance to the fort reservation,
whose attention was attracted by the
smoke. Before the guard couH turn
In the alarm flames leaped out OF the
roof in the center OF the immense
building and soon the entire top "t
the building was seeming mass
flames. 1t Is thought the fire start
cd on the ground flocr in the Center
OF the hotel and had burned withou
detection until the entire inside of the
! hotel building was too far eaten away
to prevent it's total destruction.
KS Gave General Alarm.
As soon as the fire was discovered
the general alarm was given. but the
artilierymen, stationed at Fort Mon
roe, are now in camp near the new
batteries and II required some time
for the fire-fchtine soldiers to answer
the call. The entire forces of the
6re brigade finally arrived on the
scene ard soon four streams We're
PLAYING on the sfething masses
of flames. which We're now
Issuing from all sides aad
through the roof OF the building The
alarm was sent IN for the Phoebus de-
par,ment. which responded win
prur,ptness. but most Of the iiTemen
are away with the company in Penn
sylrania and there waS rot an IN
.giueer present to handle the engine.
For this reason the PhcCbus depart