The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1911-06-02
LOSS 100000
FAMOUS RESORT SUFFERS MOST
DISASTROUS BLAZE IN ITS
HISTORY.
AT N. Y. C0NEY ISLAND
of Smaller Shows Go Up IN Smoke.
Babes Rescued From
Infant lncubators.

New York, N. Y. Coney Island,
the playground of New York. suffered
the worst fire disaster of it's history.
Dreamland, the largest of the amuse-
ment parks, was wiped out and about
four blocks adjoining, covered with
booths, restaurants, hotels, moving
picture theaters and resorts of various
types, were destroyed.
The fire broke out at 2 a. m. and
was not under control until three and
a half hours later. The loss will
amount to between $4,000 900 and
$4,000, 900.
in the teeth of a strong wind but for
burned down and perhaps 1000 per-
Observation-Disclosures and employees,
were turned into the streets homeless
n penniless. No lives were lost.
The burned area represents nearly a.
third of the entire amusement city, all
Of which would undoubtedly have gone
in the teeth of a strong iwnd but for
the fact that Coney Island, with a
high pressure water system especially
designed for fire protection, is better
guarded against a disaster of this kind
than any other similar resort in the
world.
The fire was discovered, a tiny
blaze, in the tarred scaffolding of Hell
Gate" a scenic railway close to the
entrance to Dreamland. Twenty min
utes after a frightened Waterman had
turned in three alarms one after an
other as fast as his thumb could press
the key, all Dreamland-lO acres Of
eaudy, closely packed buildings, was
one blaze. The flames, urged by a
strong wind, We're visible for nearly 10
miles. Close to Hell Gate" where
the fire started, was the Boster animal
show, and nearer yet the infant incu-
bator, a charity nursery in which were
six wee infants and their attendants.
The children were taken out in their
little glass houses and rushed out Of
danger by the police.
Then came the work of taking out
the animals, a costly collection, in
Guiding several dangerous man-eaters.
The animals were in a panic. Their
roaring could be heard for many
blocks, above the cracking of the
flames and the throbbing of the en-
sines. The trainers lost no time
lille policemen with drawn revolvers
stood at the entrance to guard the
crowd in the streets against any
beasts that might escape, the attend
ants drove their charges from the
cages Gown the runways into the
emergency vans, which are always
ready.
All went we'll until the transfer was
nearly concluded. Then the biggest
of the lions, in panic, broke from mis-
bonds, smashed his way through the
barriers and leaped into the street.
already packed by a throng of spec
tators. He dived straight into he
middle Of the throng. CONSERVATION
seized the multitude and the crowd
rushed pell nell in all directions in
panic.
A mounted policeman came at the
c1ouchlng best in the center of the
wide avenue with drawn revolver.
Twice he shot n twice missed. the
lion backing away from the glare and
noise OF the explosions. Then six
more mounted policemen lined I'D in
front OF the crowd and open a fusil-
lade. Backing away, snarling and
leaving a trail of blood from MANY
wounds, the lion made his way across
tie avenue into the dark wooden tun-
nels Of The Rocky Road to Dublin"
In a black corner beneath painted
scenes of equatorial Africa he made
his last stand. Three final volleys
were required to finish him and he
sank 20 the ground, riddled like a
sieve.
William H. Reynolds, a former state
senator, was the principal owner of
Dreamland. When notified of the fire
he said: I'VE have beer afraid of
this for seven years and were doing
our best to ward it off. 1t is the
toughest piece of news l ever heard.
Dreamland is worth $500, 900, and
there is less than $500, 900 Insurance."
Coney Island has been swept more
or less by fires ever since it became a
great popular amusement place. The
most disastrous blaze was one which
started in the Gave of the Winds"
in Steeplechase park, on the morning
Of July 2S, 1907. This fire swept some
35 acres clean and caused a loss OF
S. 10000 O0. The last big fire at Coney
Island was on July s, 1908, which de-
stroyed two hotels with a loss esti.
mated at 5000, 600.