The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-04-02
FIVE HOTELS OF
 ST. AUGUSTINE
 ARE DESTROYED
Bridgeport Families Left Florida Just Tn Time to
 Escape Flames
TWO INJURED, ONE
 DYING, FROM HURTS
Loss to Southern Resort Ig Expected to Reach Close
 to $75O, 900


 St. Augustine, Fla, April 2-FiFa early today destroyed five tourists' hotels. the county court hoase and a number of residences here, So far as known no lives were lost though CIairmont. Atlantic and Central which were destroyed. escaped scaHtfIy elad and bad dlo time to save their persol- al belongings. The flames were cheek ed late this forenoon Propcrty dar7-. age is estimated at between s100.ea5 and $750 0g9.
 Nearly two blocks near the water front were destroyed. For a time the business section of the city ssae endangered but the flames finally were checked by the local fremer and a. section of the Jaeksonvflfe Ire deparf- shortly before daylight.
 The burned section was boarded tJ Charlotte, Treasury. HyDeiits and st- George streets.
 WOMAN FATALLY HUHT
 An unidentified woman sDstaiIed a dfsIocated neck and was probably fs- tally hurt when sIle pIunGed from t1s tilird story of a residence. A. Libby a guest at the Florida. broke q les in Ieapine from a second sforv rsf~- day of the hotel. He will recover.
 A company Of militia today euarlsf the burned section to prevent bot ing.
 The fire started in the secon6 ator,, of the south winF Qf the Piorlda House which w4B FranIe atructurt shortly before dc clock The are ds- partment was on the scene aufctriT but the frame building burned % rapidly that the flames were uncontro1la1le- The Bremen and others who sathEre1 i when ihe alarm sounded turned their attentipn ta 4he -esctik of gueste-
 It was only this prompt action rtlat prevented the loss of life. COURTHOUSE BURNED.
 Among the first buildings destroyed was the St Johns county courehouae. supposed to have been freprooE structure. The ballots in yesterdaT-5 good roads bond election were fn an open hall of the courthouse and were saved. It is not believed that rscorfs in the vaults of the county clerks or- fee will be damaged.
 The flames were under control shortly after daybreak- Pricelea5 treasures were destroyed when me flames attacked the old Veddcr 5uild- ing, where errios Of the historical zc- ciety were stored Records of the old | Spanish days which had Ions been viewed with interest, by thousands cf winter visitors were entirely destroy ed.
 The flames spread east and nOrfh. famed by d stiff breeze and quickly destroyed the Genovaropora house. a large frame building The Masuoliz hotel caught fire several times 1lilc was not destroyed though badly dam | aged.
 Prominent Bridgeport familes -e7- capped the st Augustine confa sratiou and possibly loss Of their valuable 1 through the excessive heat which drove them north sooner than they l Intended,
 l Among these were Mir and 1Trs. A. " Burritt and daughter who arrived home Monday, and Mir. and Mrs A. Bruel, of Beach street, who returned 1 to Bridgeport yesterday 1 Speaking Of the residents of tho Park City. Miss Burritt stated that she believed there were several oti1- CTS there now. although she was un- able to recall their nan1es-
 M C. Tilden and family Of sFVaslI. ington. Conn. are safd to have been there within the past few days.