The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-28
DREAMLAND PARK
REDUCEDTOASHES
T ire Sw eeps Coney
Isl an DIS bigg est
Amusement Place.
LOSS is MORE
THAN So, 900, 600
Flames Cover Area Equal to
Eight City Blocks and Destroy
200 Buildings-Lion, Escap-
ing, in Crowd Causes
Panic Until 1t Is
Killed.


early today Dreamland, the largest
of the amusement parks, was wiped
out. and about four blocks adjoining,
covered with booths, restaurants.
hoteis, moving picture theatres and re-
sorts OF various types were destroyed
me fire broke out at 2 o'clock in
the morning. and was not under con-
troll until three hours and a half later.
The loss will amount to between ST.
0oo,ooo and $4,000 900
In all, about 200 buildings were
burned down. and perhaps 1000 per
Observation-Disclosures 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 undoubtedly would have como
In the teeth of a strong wind but for
the fact that Coney Island. with a high
pressure water system, especially de-
signed for FIRE protection. is better
guarded against disaster of this kind
than any other similar resort in the
world.
Starts in "HeiI Cate"
The IRE was discovered. tiny blaze.
in the tarred scaffoIdings OF Hell
Gate" a scenic railway close to the
entrance to Dreamland. Twenty min
turned in three alarms. one after an
other. as fast as his thumb could press
the key all Decentralization acres of
gaudy, closely packed buildings-was
one great blaze. The flames, urged by
a strong wind, were visible for nearly
fifteen miles.
Close to Hell Gate" where the ire
started. was the Bostock animal show.
ana nearer set tho infant incubator.
charity nursery in which were six
wee infants and theft attendants The,
children were taken out in their little
glass houses and rushed out OF danger
ny the police. Then came the work of
taking ont the animals, a costly collec-
ton, including several dangerous man
eaters. The animals were in a panic
Their roaring could be heard for many
blocks above the crackll e OF the
flames and the throbbing OF the en-
gines- The trainers lost no time While
policemen W tn drawn revolvers stood
at the entrance to guard the crowd in
the streets against any beasts that
might escape. the attendants drove
their charges from the ca ges down the
runways into tho emergency vans.
which are always ready.
Lion Escapes
All went we'll until the transfer was
the lions, in panic, broke from his
bonds. smashed his way through the
barriers. and leaped into the street. all
ready packed by a throng OF specta-
tors He dived straight into the middle
OF the throng. CONSERVATION seized
the multitude. and the crowd rushed
pell-mell in all directions, in panic.
mounted policeman came at the
crouching beast in the centre of the
dra
Twice he shot and twice missed, the
lion backing away from the glare and
noise of the explosions. Then six more
mounted policemen lined up in front
OF the crowd and opened a fusillade
Backing away, snarllng. and leaving n
trail OF blood from many wounds, the
lion made his way across the avenue
into the dark wooden tunnels Of the
Rocky Rond to Dublin" In a black
corner, beneath painted scenery OF
equatorial Africa. he mado his last
stand Three final volleys were re-
CURED to finish him. and he sank to
the ground, riddled like sieve To
make sure that he was dead, one of
the policeman pulled down a fire axe
from behind the scenery and Knocked
tho skull In two.
as soon as the people were assured
that tho lion was no more they rushed
In and literally tore the carcass 10
bits for souvenirs. The first man on
the scene took tho tasseled tail. The
three next divided the long mano, and
fifty men fought among themselves for
the honor of possessing one of his
teeth
sixty Left to Die.
Meanwhile the escape of the big lion
had cut short the work of the animal
men. and the IRE was already in the
1nenagorie before their work was com
pleted Sixty OF tho los animals were
left to die by FIRE.
hose connected to the high pressure
land Tower. with Its glare Of many
thousand electric bulbs, fell into the
lake, and the fro swept on beyond the
little booths and concessions which
Dremaland pier, jutting far out into
stands and booths was swept clean to
Considering tho extent and rapid
of miraculous that none OF the summer
their lives The only casualties report
ed by the police were three persons
overcome by the smoke. one a fireman
and the other two nurses in the inou-
bator hospital. All three were re-
Vved without difficulty.
Had tho fire started two hours oar
Her. when tho crowd of sightseers
n T(Continued on Eighth Page.)