The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-08-11
MONTICELLO, n. H.
SWEPT BY FIRE;
Loss 100000
Business Section OF Summer Re-
sort Observation-Disclosures
Guests in Burned Hotels.

MIDDLETowN, N. Y, Aug. IL
Blowing down buildings with dyna-
mite, the firemen today checked the
flames which swept the business Sec
ton of the famous summer resort town
of Monticello last night, razing thirty
six buildings, including all the big
hotels, causing a loss estimated at
81. 900, 900.
Three hotels filed with summer
guests mainly from New York city and
Jersey were destroyed. They were the
Rockwell House. the largest hotel in
Sullivan county: the Paiatine Hotel
and the Bolsum House. All the guests
escaped with most Of their personal
effects. The Monticello House was not
burned. The Union National Bank,
both newspaper offices and every store
but one in the town was destroyed.
A number of negroes who went over
from Port Jeryis to help fight the fire,
seeing the streets piled with all sorts
of valuables and other property. began
pillaging. They would reappear in an
other place as soon as driven from one
locality, and finally the sheriff swore
in a large posse and he hooters were
driven from the town.
When the fire started In the electric
lighting plant back of the Palatine
Hotel, there was a high wind blowing.
The Palatine Music Hall and thon
the hotel itself speedily caught fire.
The fifty or more guests of the hotel
escaped with their belongings.
The inability OF the local fire depart
ment to cope with the confiagration
soon became apparent, and help was
summoned from Port Jervis and Lib
erty. From the Palatine Hotel the fire
spread up and down both sides of Main
sweeping the business buildings,
and stores for a distance of about
six blocks. The Rockwell House, which
lad about $50 guests, was licked up by
the flames In short order. but the occu-
pants, warned in ample time, saved
most of their possessions. The Bolsuin
House also was quickly burned.
The other buildings destroyed includ-
ed the Masonic Temple, the offices of
the Monticello Republican and Watch
man, newspapers; the Hudson River
Central Telephone office and many bust
ness houses and private residences.
1t was 2 o'clock this morning, when
the fire had ragged for six hours, that
all hope of saving any of the business
was abandoned and resort was
had to dynamite to save the rest of the
town. The summer guests were housed
in scores of boarding houses, of which
the town is chiefly composed In sum-
mer.
Many Firemcn Overcome.
While the normal population of Mon
ticello Is only about 1000 persons, there
more than 1000 there this summer.
Many have been made homeless by the
fire, and there Is wild excitement every
where.
Many firemen overcome in fghting
the flames were attended by local doc
tors.
Defective insulation, 1t is believed,
was responsible for the fire. A police
a noticed the smoke pouring through
one Of the factory windows, and a
hurry call was sent In for the firemen.
When they arrived, however. the whole
building was ablaze and the flames had
to several adjoining structures.
that they gained rapid Roadway.
Residents from nearby towns went TO
the scene in automobiles and WAGONS to
the firemen.