The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-05-30
MILLIONS LOST AT CONEY ISLAND
Fire Starts in "Hell Gate;" Destroys
'Dreamland"-Four Adjoining
Blocks Also.

New York, May 7.-Coney Island,
the playground of New York, suffer-
ed the worst disaster of its history
today "Dreamland," the largest Of
the amusement parks, was wiped out
and about four blocks adjoining, COW
cred with booths, restaurants, hotels,
moving picture theatres land resorts
of varied types, were destroyed.
The fire broke out at 2 o'clock in
the morning and was not under con-
troll until three hours and half lat
er The loss will amount to between
s2000,000 and s3,OO0000.
In all about 200 buildings were
burned and perhaps 1000 persons,
concessionaries and employees, were
turned into the streets, homeless and
penniless. No lives were lost.
Water System Effective
The burned area represents nearly
a third of the amusement city, all of
which would undoubtedly have gone
in the teeth Ct q strong wind, but for
the fact that Coney Island, with
high pressure water system, especial
1y designed for fire protection, guard
ed against a disaster of this kind.
The fire was discovered, tiny
blaze, in the tarred scaffolding of
Hell Gate" a scenic railway close
to the entrance to sDreamland."
Twenty minutes after a frightened
watchman had turned in three alarms,
one after another, as fast as his
thumb could press the key, all
"Dreamland," ten acres of closely
packed buildings, was one blaze. The
flames, urged by strong wind, were
visible for nearly fifteen miles.
Close to Hell Gate," where the fire
started, was the Bostock animal show
and nearer yet the infant incubator,
a charity nursery, in which we're six
infants and their. attendants. The
children were taken out in their lit
tie glass houses and rushed out Of
danger by the police. !
Man-Eating Lion Escapes.
Then came the work of taking out
the animals, a costly collection, in
cluding several dangerous man-eat-
ers. The animals were in panic.
Their roaring could be heard for
many blocks above the cracking Of
the flames and throbbing Of the en-
gines The trainers lost no time.
While policemen with drawn revolv-
ers stood at the entrance to guard
the crowds against any beasts that
might escape, the attendants drove
their charges from their cages down
the runways into the emergency vans,
which are always ready.
All went we'll until the transfer
was nearly concluded. Then the big
gest of the lions, in panic, broke from
his bonds, smashed his way through
the barriers and leaped into the street
all packed by throng of spectators.
He dived straight into the middle Of
the throng. CONSERVATION seized the
multitude and the crowd rushed pell-
nell in all directions in panic.
Slain Amid Jungle Scenery.
A mounted policeman came upon
the crouching beast in the centre of
the wide avenue with drawn revolver.
Twice he shot and missed the lion,
backing away from the glare and the
noise of the explosions, then six more
mounted policemen lined up in front
of the crowd and opened fusillade.
Backing away, snarling and leaving
a trail of blood from many wounds,
the lion made his way across the ave-
nue. into the dark wooden tunnels of
"The Rocky Road to Dublin
In a black corner beneath painted
scenery Of equatorial Africa, he made
his last stand Three final volleys
were required to finish him and -
sank to the ground riddled like sieve
To make sure that he was dead, one
of the policemen pulled down fire
axe from behind the scenery and
knocked the skull in two. AS soon
:as the crowd was assured that the
lion was no more, they rushed in and
literally tore the carcass to bits for
souvenirs. The first man on the scene
took the tasselled tail, the three next
divided the long mape and fifteen men
fought among themselves for the
honor of possessing one Of his teeth.
Sixty Animals Perish.