The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-03-10
WE'LL KNOWN HOTEL
BURNS TO GROUND
Chambcrlin Old Point Comfort, Dc.
strOyed. May be Loss Of Life.

StrOyed. May be Loss of Life.
Old Point Comfort, Va, March 7.,-
The Chamberlin hotel, famous summer
and winter resort, erected by congress
sional permission on the government
reservation at fortress Monroe and
nationally known for years by reason
Of the prominent character OF it's
clientile, was totally destroyed this
afternoon by fire that started in a
room on the ground floor at 4:4O
o'clock. SO rapidly was the spread of
the flames through the hotel that in a
little over two hours there was moth
ing left but scanty ruins. The Cham
berlin was valued at 100000 and
there was $350,0O0 insurance. 1t is re-
ported that Of the 200 guests aud ITO
employees in the hotel at the time of
the fire several are missing but they
are as yet unidentified
Fire departments from Hampton and
other points in, the Virginia peninsula
were rushed to the scene but were un-
able to do anything to stop the rapid
headway.
In addition to the Chamberlin there
were destroyed the large general store
adjacent and the Adams Express COM
|pany building. Boats for Baltimore
and New York and other points which
were to have called at Old Point Com
fort this afternoon did not dock but
continued on their way lighted by the
glare from the burning of the famous
pile.
During the excitement incident to
the sudden alarm and the reported de-
struction Of the hotel several women
guests put themselves Ia extreme peril
in efforts to return to their rooms to
save belongings; Jewels. etc. Several
of these were rescued by firemcn who
took them down the fire escapes when
they were cut off from the halls by
flame and smoke.
The hotel was on the eve Of the Eas-
ter season which draws many guests
from all parts OF the country and in
a few days there would have been sew
eral times as many guests in the hotel
as were caught there in the fire. Many
|of these guests lost much PERSONAL
property of which no estimate can now
be made.
1t is impossible tonight to ascertain
definitely whether or not there was
loss Of life, reports OF which came
from two firemen, active in the early
battle to save the structure. One Of
these men says that when he was di-
recting a stream of water into an up
per window he heard scream from
the flame within. Another declares
that he saw for moment an elderly
man accompanied by an elderly wo-
man appear at window which was
almost instantly obscurcd by smoke
and that he did not see that they
emerged from the building. In the
confusion of the sudden alarm the
hotel register was either forgotten
and burned or had been locked in the
hotel safe Army officers Of the rcser-
yation and the hotel management de-
clare that SO far as they have been
able to ascertain there has been no
loss OF life but they are unable to
state positively that there were no
fatalities.
The total loss including the hotel
with other buildings burned and the
personal property of guests is rough
ly estimated at between $3,O00,00O and
$4,O00,0O0. One very wealthy wo-
man, Mrs. Schiwrnitz, is rumored to
have suffered the loss of 100000 in
diamonds.
Among the prominent guests who
were present at the hotel were: Mai.
Gen. George o. Squires, chief Of the
United States aircraft department;
Mr.. and Mrs. schwirnitz Of New York;
General and Mrs. Patterson Of AL
bany; Oliver S. Bond. OF Detroit; Mrs.
Clarence Kenyon of New York.
At the outbreak of the fire the Of
flccrs took charge OF the reservation
and excluded all except fremen and
newspaper men. Fire companies came
from Camp Eustis, Langley field, New
port News, Hampton and other towns
and there was q strenuous but un-
available fight.
Guests OF the hotel are tonight be-
ing cared for by army officers and