Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-27
flames, Starting Early in
the Morning, Destroy
DreamIand.
LION HUNT IN STREET
Man Eater Breaks Away and Is
Pursued and Shot to
Death by Police.

NewYork, May 27.-Coney island
The playground of New York, suffer
ed the worst fire of its history early
today. Dreamland. the largest of
the amusement parks. was wiped out
and about four blocks adjoining COW
cred with booths, restaurants, no.
tells, moving picture theatres and re-
sorts of various types, were de-
etroyed.
LOSS ss.oOo,OOO.
The loss is estimated at $4,000.
200. About 200 buildings burned an
perhaps 1000 persons. confessional
les and employees, were turned into
the streets, homeless and penniless.
No lives were lost,
Three persons, a fireman and two
nurses were overcome by smoke. but
they we're revived without difficulty.
Had the fire started two hours ear
lier when a crowd of sightseers
thronged the concessions the disaster
would have been an appalling one.
STARTED IN TAR
The fire was discovered in the tar
red scaffolding of Hell Gate" a
scenic railway close to the entrance
of Dreamland. The cause is not
definitely determined, but it is sup
posed it originated from hot tar as
workmen had been smearing the
causeways TO protect the scaffolding
from the weather. Flames were Wis
ible for ] 3 miles.
Near where the fire started was
the Bostock animal show and close
by the infant incubator, a charity
nursery in which were six infants
and attendants. The babies were
taken out of their little glass houses
and rushed out of danger blythe po-
lice.
LION BREAKS AWAY
Then came the work Of taking out
animals, costly collection including
several dangerous man eaters. The
animals were in panic. Their
roaring could he heard above the
cracking Of the flames and throbbing
of the fire engines a number Of
animals had been transferred into
emergency vans by attendants and
police when one of the biggest lions
broke away and dived straight into
the throng of spectators. The crowd
n
pursued the lion firing at the beast.
IN some painted scenery of eQua-
torial Africa the animal made a last
stand. Here he was riddled with
bullets.
When the crowd saw the lion dead
they literally tore the carcass TO
pieces for souvenirs.
STOPS THE RESCUE.
The first man on the scene took the
tasseied tail, the three next divided
the long name. and 90 men fought
among themselves for the honor n
possessing one of his teeth. Mear
while the escape OF the bis lion had
cut short the work OF the animal mcu
and the fire was already in the me
nageries before their work was coui
pleted. Sixty of the los animals were
left 20 die by FIRE
SAVED BY WATER SYSTEM.
The burned area represents near
J. a third OF the entire amusement
City. all OF which would urdoubtedi,
have gone IN the tech OF The strong
wind. but for the fact that COney Is
land. with hish pressure water 60
tenn especially designed for fire pre-
lection. is better guarded a6ainst
disaster OF this kind shan any othe:
similar resort in the world.
CROWDS RUSH TO SCENE.
Considering tho ozlsu, and Tapii
spread OF the blaze &, was nttle short
Cf miraculous that none OF the sur.-
Iner inhabitants OF the burned district
lost their lives. The fire was visible
all over Brooklyn and lover NeT
York and transit lines brought ,hrong=
@. slghtseeTs &C the G.s. The FIRE com
Ing at this cine, on. the eys OF tic
first great s2rIss= holiday, assumes
srshter naAzei5i importance 10 iae
raanaESTde1. thaa = almost any ether
time during the season. Praetieai'y
eli of the concessions opeasd thei"
doors iasi Saturday. JUS, week age, :.
BLOW 70 oWsEE.
William II. HeyS stG=. former sesh,
ter. is said 70 50 tbs p..Eeipai oNHst
of Dreamiand. Whsa notified ef tsS
ire ne ssid. 1t + tas toughest Pisee
O. news ! eYsF heard, DFsa-4iaHd IS
worth $4,000. .eJ1. and ihcrs is less
thaa $500, COS iss4reass."
DUnUoU<s Lt>zE-1ss s.sD.
DubUqus. !Cws. A.4E s1,-A
fz=se tract of the yaEds o. ths STAN
G-.d LHnsbeF seAPEay @e-s HESS OF
eceis today IS : Fezait 81 WAst is
t,=i.sYeG ts hass 3ss= al iR5ezCisFy
last n.sat. S.Eesas4 uztt.ec s.tl
-ls names fSa= aeGrs. zaG q o1s
t.zze it wss Iee.s6 l.la -zlH sEG sseEy
fc0i u lumbes wou.d D. DESTROYED