New-York tribune., 1911-09-25
FIRE RAZES ROCKAWAY
BEACH BUILDINGS
Two Blocks on the Boulevard
Burned Flat, Including Rink,
Restaurants and Shows.
MlLKMAN GIVES THE ALARM
Blaze Is Subdued After Hard
Fight-Families Saved by
Man Who Loses
His Home.

FIRE that brok. out In a Seaside skating
rink and for several hours threatened TO
sweep the whole OF Rockawsy Beach
had the Fire Department on the Jump dur
ing the two hours preceding daylight yes
terday morning, and was got under control
only after $4,000 worth Of restaurants, ice
cream parlors and amusement places had
been reduced 10 ashes
Two entire blocks OF q district bounded
by Seaside ana Washington avenues. the
Boulevard and Henry street. were burned
fat The total absence OF any wind and
the desperate fight put Up by the nre de-
partn1ent every man Of which was In
harness saved the rest OF the resort from
being wiped OF the map.
The fire was discovered at 3i5 o'clock oy
milkman going along North Remsen ave.
nue. who saw smoke coming from the roof
Of the Seaside Skating Rink. He ran
around the corner TO the hrehouse' on
the Boulevard, and gave the alarm. sew
araI OF the fremen grabbed fire extinguish-
ers and started for the rink. but during
the minute or so that had elapsed flames
had begun 10 show themselves In the vim
dows Of the structure. The hremen turned
iD an alarm. and three companies. under
the command Of Acting Chief McCIinnis'
responded
Within three minutes after the blaze was
discovered in the skating rink the structure
was furnace Of flames Meanwhile the
TaubenfeIt Hotei, next door, had caught
fire. and a few minutes later an eauns
house AT the oxtrcme end Of Remsen ave-
nue. was burning.
While the fire Aghters were trying 10 gee
into position TO rake the street from no
skating rink MP with the half dozep
streams that we're then playing the flames
Jumped around the corner 70 No. 10
boulevard. occupied by Chubback's drug
store. one OF the urost pretentious shops
IN Rockaway. At this point the Boule-
yqrd is only about shirty feet wide and
the fire that began TO spout out of the
burning drug store threatened momen-
tarilv 70 lump across 10 the New YORK
Hotel opposite, a four story structure.
The building at No. I7S Boulevard was
tno next 10 catch fire. In quick success
sion a two story restaurant at No. lsZ
and a three story cafe H 40. ls+ Boule-
ward blaZed 1Ip. The ola1.e y tne dIul
store was sublued frst While the iva
/ streams still continued 20 play on tA'
hotel opposite, the hre hgnter7 Iad
chance TO turn their attention 20 ~
buildings that were ratccing IRE GER,
few minutes further down the Boule gard
In the rear Of the SaganOre Hotel, on'
Of the buildings burned, was two stor!
+ dwelling occupied by Charles Heer wit!
his wife and two culidren Heer a"oh
IN fnd the place filed with smoke an'
burning buildings hemming him n on al
. gides He smashed down a fence in th'
rear with an axe and 1ot HIS wife an
. children out 70 a vacant, lot az the back
+ Then he remembered thar family name'
I Davis. living in rlse hoUs next his. wer'
/ i'm the same predGa,nent IN which he foun'
l himself
/ Heer ran back 4ld found Mrs. Davis an
J an eight months old baby unconscious. II
. carried both out, and returned 70 he'll
, out the father ana two small boys
lust nineteen years before Rockawa'
. had its great . .0O0, 900 fire.