Evening star., 1920-03-08

, estimated at more than $3,O00.000.
In addition to the Chamberlin there
were destroyed the large general
store adjacent and the Adams Ex-
| and New York and other points
which were to have called at Old
Point Comfort yesterday afternoon
did not dock. but continued on their
| way lighted by the glare from the burn
ing Of the famous pile.
During the excitement incident to
the sudden alarm and the rapid de-
struction Of the hotel several woman
guests put themselves in extreme
peril in efforts to return to thelr
rooms to save belongings, jewels. etc
Several Of these were rescued by hre-
men who took them down the nre es-
capes when they were cut on from
the halls by flame and smoke.
Army Takes Charge.
At the outbreak of the fire the
Army took charge of the reservation
and excluded all except firemen and
| newspaper men. Fire companies came
from Camp Eustis. Langley Field
| Newport News, Hampton and other
towns and there was strenuous pu'
unavailing hght. Probably twenty
thousand people gathered outside the
reservation to watch the fire and the
, scene on Hampton Roads. Its broad
| waters cleaning in the fire and the
crowds shown massed In its glare
was an exciting and impressive one
Guests of the hotel were cared foi
last night by Army ofncials and
others who have homes within the
.. reservation.
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
Mro AlnAnV
Oliver S. Bond of Detroit and Mrs
Clarence Kenyon Of New York.
Eight guests Of the hotel, who made
: their escape following the alarm OF
the fire, but who lost all their bag
gage, went to Norfolk last night or
C. r. Marsten Langdon and G. s. Hart
Of Hartford. Conn: Mr.. and Mrs. 8. o
Ford, Washington, d. c., and w. A
Forbes, A. J. Major, A. c. Cogswell
and L. e. Hadley. addresses unknown
Famous Gathering Place.
The chamberlin was btilt in the
early nineties by John Chamberlin
famous in his day as proprietor OF
Chamberlin's restaurant, at Washing.
ton. which was the gathering place OF
len high in public life. A seven-story
frame structure. 1t stood on the water
front, close by the fort. and in late
years there was talk Of rAzing 1t to
make room for development of the
Army post But the hotel had become
such vital part Of Army and Navy
at Old Point that 1t remained.
Before the war. when the feet
sailed in and out Of Hampton roads
the Chamberlin generally was filled
with oflicers' wives.
Army officers who took charge OF
the reservation Immediately after the
fire said the hotel probably would not
be rebuilt, and certainly not on the
old site.
The hotel was on the eve Of the
Easter season, which draws many
guests from all parts Of the country
and in q few days there would have
been several 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 esti-
mate can now be made.
The total loss. including the hotel
and other buildings burned and the
personal property Of guests, Is rough
ly estimated at between three and
four million dollars. One very wealthy
woman, Mrs. Schwirnits, IL rumored
to have suffered the loss of 100000
in diamonds.