The evening world., 1914-04-02
FIVE HOTELS BURN
IN SWEEP Of FIRE
At ST. AUGUSTINE
Troops Called Out as Flames
Destroy Two City Blocks
in Florida Resort.
$4,000 DAMAGE DONE.
New York Tourists See Fire
men and Soldiers Rescue
Guests-Two Are Injured.
$4,000 DAMAGE DONE.

IT. AUGUSTINE. Fla. April A.
Fire carly to-day destroyed ave
tourists hotels. the county court hou7s
and . number Of residences here. 20
tar a. known no lives were lost.
although many guests at the Flo. ia,
Munson. Ciairmont Atlantic and
Central Hotels. which wsrs destroyed,
escaped scantiiy Glad and had no
time TO saw their personal BE-, e
ings. The flames wsrs checked late
this forenoon. Property damage 10
estim. at about e7so.ooo.
Nearly two blocks near the WATER
front wsro destroyed Fur Q time the
business section Of the city was on.
dangsrsd, but the nAmes finally were
checked by local firsmoa and q section
Of the Jacksonville IRE department.
which arrived on = special train
shortly before daylight
Tho hrs originated IN the Kitchen Of
the Florida, . large wooden structure,
and spread rapidly. The nrst alarm
was turned In at I o'clock. FYremen
hrst turned their attention TO rescuing
guests at the Florida, many Of whom
were carried down ladders. Occu.
paDts Of the other hotels were
warned Of their danger and many
fisd into the streets without any ct.
tempt 70 save their personal bslong.
ings.
Two persons were injured. Miss
Alice M. Smith OF Amherst, N. g.,
suffered . broken back and leg In
Jumping from tho second story win.
dow Of house and will die. A. Libh1.
a guest at the Florida, broke leg in
lesping from the second door Of the
hotel. He will recover.
The veddsr House. . famous land.
mark containing valuable curios COL
lected by the st. Augustine Historical
Society. the 0onovar Opera House
and the Power Boat Club we're among
the buildings destroyed.
/. Tho burned section was bounded
by Charlotte. Treasury. Hypolita
and ct. George streets.
When the IRE attacked the Power
Boat Club building on the bay front
IL was the preseAce Of mind Of
Charles Hopkins. manager Of the
races. that saved $4,000 In speed
craft. Rushing to the boat house
he cut tho moorings of the boats and
they sailed unframed to q safe har-
bort In tho bay.
Priceless treasures were DESTROYED
when flames attacked the old vedder
Building. where eurios Of the His
torical Society were stored. Records
Of tho old Spanish days which had
long been viewed with interest by
thousands OF winter visitors, wsr~
entirely destroyed.
There were . number Of acts Of
heroism during the firc. the life ars
daring death. H. L. wiiioughby jr. Of
Philadelphia was ono OF the heroes.
undoubtedly saving many lives by
taking Q stand with a hose on top
OF Q hardware store In which WIS
stored q big q nifty Of gunpowder
and shot. which stood close 70 the
Magnolia Hotel. whore 100 psrsons
wee ised.
OWING to the great number OF
strangers In the city and the panic
prevailing during the fire. martial NV
was practically proclaimed. troops
Of the state militia being called
out. While forces Of soldiers. I'm.
der command Of Adj-QNn. Eos.
ter. guarded ie name-swept dis
trict. others aided the nrsmsn In res
cuing people and saving property
Troops stu guarded the ars diststo
from hooters during the day.
| There was great exoitsmsu
throughout the city during the Ore
The resort " now crowded with Wis
itors. Thu u practically the winduI
Of the winter season. and for tn
next few weeks st. Augustine's hotel
will DO running at full capacity
Among the visitors here are many 90
ciety people from New York an,
other Northern oitiss.
The section OF the city burned on
to- day Wa the sams that was swsp
BY . disastrous nrs twenty sigh
years ago. Al that time the fame
destroyed everything along the wate
front. Among the buildings burns,
was the old Cathedral. said to hAv
been one OF the oldest churches Il
America and the bishops palace
This section was rebuilt after the ARE
mostly with unpretsntious franz
buildings.
st. Augustine u famed alike 90
winter resort and for it, bsauttfu
hotels. The most noted Of the hotel
are the Ponce do Leon. the Alcasa
and the Cordova. which were built b
Henry n. FiaSlsr twenty years az
and the Granada. All Of the hotel
are noted for their beautiful archi
lecture and furnishings. Surround
Ing each are magnificent gardens GOV
ering nearly two city blocks 70 eac
l - 30