The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1911-06-02
FAMOUS RESORT SUFFERS MOST
DISASTROUS BLAZE IN IT'S
HISTORY.
AT N. Y. CONEY ISLAND
All of "DreamIand" and Four Blocks
of Smaller Shows Go UP In Smoke.
Babes Rescued From
Infant Incubators.


the worst fire disaster of it's history.
Dreamland, the largest Of the amuse-
ment parks, was wiped out ana about
four blocks adjoining, covered with
booths, restaurants, hotels, moving
picture theaters and resorts Of various
types, were destroyed.
was not under control until three and
a half hours later. The loss will
amount to between $2000,000 and
$3000,000
in the teeth Of strong wind but for
burned down and perhaps 1000 per-
sons-concessionaire and employees,
were turned into the streets homeless
and penniless. No lives were lost.
The burned area represents nearly
third of the entire amusement city, all
Of which would undoubtedly have gone
in the teeth of strong iwnd but for
the fact that UUney Island, with a
high pressure water system especially
designed for fire protection, is better
guarded against 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 watchman had
turned in three alarms one after an
other as fast as his thumb could press
the key, all Dreamland-l0 acres Of
gaudy, closely packed buildings, was
one blaze. The flames, urged by
strong wind, were visible for nearly 1s
miles. Close to Hell Gate" where
the fire started, was the Boster animal
show, and nearer yet the infant incu-
bator, 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, costly collection, in
cluding several dangerous man-eaters.
The animals were in panic. Their
roaring could be heard for many
blocks, above the cracking of the
flames and the throbbing of the en-
gines. The trainers lost no time
While 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 down 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 his
bonds, smashed his way through the
barriers and leaped into the street,
already packed by throng of spec
tators. He dived straight into the
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
crouching best in the center of the
wide avenue with drawn revolver.
lion backing away from the glare and
noise OF the explosions. Then six
more mounted policemen lined up in
front OF the crowd and open a fusil-
iade. Backing away, snarling. and
leaving a trail of blood from many
wounds, the lion made his way across
the avenue into the dark wooden tun-
nels OF THE Rocky Road to Dublin"
In black corner beneath painted
scenes of equatorial Africa he made
his last stand. Three final yolleys
were required to finish him and he
sank 20 the ground riddled like a
sieve.
William H. Reynolds, former state
senator, was the principal owner of
Dreamland. When notified of the fire
he said I'VE have been afraid of
this for seven years and were doing
our best 10 ward it off. 1t is the
toughest piece of news ! ever heard.
Dreamiand is worth $2,500.o0O, and
there is less than 100000 insurance"
Coney Island has been swept more,
or less by fires ever since 1t became
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 loss OF
$l.5O0,000. The last big fire at Coney
Island was on July s, 1908, which de-
stroyed two hotels with loss estl.
mated at 100000.