New-York tribune., 1920-03-08
Famous Hotel
AT Old .sP Poi11t
~
Comfort Burns
The Chamberlain, il Valued
at $4,000, 600, Located
on Government Reser-
vation, Is Destroye d
Firemen Rescue Women
Mrs. M. L. Schinaert, Of New
York, Reported to Have
Lost 100000 in Gems

OLD POINT COMFORT. Va, March
THE Chamberlin Hotel, famous
tourist resort valued at $2,500,000 and
erected by permission Of Congress- on
the government reservation at Fort
Monroe, was destroyed by Are late to-
day. The fire started in q room on
the ground floor. So rapfd was the
spread Of the flames that in two hours
nothing was left but ruins.
Among the guests Of the hotel were
General George O. Squires, chief Of the
aviation department Of the United
States army; Mr.. and Mrs. M. L. Schi-
inert, Of New York City; Mr.. and Mrs:
o. F: Barnes, Of Detroit, and General
Schimert Is said to haye lost nearly
100000 worth of Jewels and clothing.
1t was impossible tonight for the
police to ascertain definitely whether
there had been loss Of life. A. fireman
reported that in the early struggle
with the flames which he was directing
stream of water into an upper win
dow, he heard screams from within.
Another fireman said he saw an ell
derly man and woman appear-.at a
window, which was almost instantly
obscured by smoke, and that he did
not see them again. In the confusion
and sudden alarm the hotel register
either was forgotten and burned or
was locked in the hotel safe.
Army officers at the fort and the
hotel management declared that SO far
as they had been able to ascertain
there was no loss of life, There were
about 200 guests at the Chamberlin,
which had in all ITO employees. not
all Of whom, however, weAe at work
when the fire started. T. . s5
Women Rescued by Firemen
Fire departments from Hampton and
other points. on the Virginia Peninsula
were rushed to the scene, but were un-
able to do anything to stop the rapid
headway Of the fire. In addition to the
Chamberlin, large general store ad-
jacent and the Adams Express Com
pany were destroyed. Boats for Balti-
more and New York and other points,
which were to have called at Old Point
Comfort, did not dock, but continued on
their way, lighted by the glare from
the shore.
During the excitement several women
put themselves in peril in efforts to
return to their rooms to save belong
lngs. Several of these. were rescued by
firemen who took them down the fire.
escapes when they were cut Off from
1HC HotlS w udIIe anu SMOKE.
No time was lost in finding quarters
for guests Of the hotel, most of whom
lost everything. except the clothes they
wore. Army officers opened their homes
for the women, and many others went
to Norfolk, Newport News and Hamp-
ton.
Part Of Army and Navy Life
The Chamberlin was built in the
early 90's by John Chamberlin, famous
in his day as proprietor Of Chant ber-
Inns Restaurant at Washington, which
was the gathering place Of men high in
public life. A seven-story frame struc-
ture, it stood on, the water front, close
by the fort, and initiate years there was
talk of razing it to make room for de-
velopment Of the army post. But the
hotel had become such vital part of
army and navy life at Old Point that
it remained.
Before the war, when the feet sailed
in and out Of Hampton Roads. the
Chamberlin generally was filled with
officers wives, and the greatest naval
assemblage came here to witness the
departure of the American fleet on its
voyage around the world.
Army officers who took charge of the
reservation Immediately after the fire
started said tonight the hotel probably
would not be rebuilt, and certainly not
on the old Site