The New York herald., 1922-07-31
MAIDSTONE GOLFERS
FIGHT BLAZE IN Vain
Southampton Summer Colony
Forms Bucket Brigade
When Pump Fails.
CLUBHOUSE IS IN ASHES
Personal Belongings but Lit
tie Club Property Saved
in Stampede.
CLUBHOUSE IS IN ASHES

Special Dispatch to THE NEW York HERALD
EAST HAMPTON. L.. l.. July 30.-The
100000 clubhouse OF the Maidstone
Golf and Tennis Club. which includes
in its membership the most prominent
members of the summer colony both
here and at Southampton, was de-
stroyed this afternoon by fire which
started in locker room and spread
yunchecked because OF a lack of water.
Hundreds of summer residents, at
tracted by the flames and huge column
Of smoke which could be seen for
miles, formed bucket brigade which
saved the Maidstone Inn. fifty yards
distant from the clubhouse, from being
consumed in the flames.
hundred or more persons were play
ing golf or tennis On the club grounds
when they discovered a thin column OF
smoke pouring out an upper window of
the clubhouse. A cry of fire Immediately
went up and there was a rush for cloth
ing. as most Of the golf and tennis play
ers had left their street clothes in the
lockers before going onto the links or the
courts. The rush was akin to a stampede
Most of the clothing was rescued from
the flames and men and women joined
In dragging the more expensive articles
OF furniture out Of the lounge. Among
the articles so saved was a grand piano.
valued at $4,000, which was presented
to the club two years ago by Frederick
Gallatin.
John Drew Aids Rescue.
John Drew was among those playing
on the green when the fre was
discovered and he was among the
leaders in the rescue work He was
aided by Robert Appleton. Frank b. WI
borg. w. H. Woodin. Wallace Reid, DIR
George K. Munroe. S. T. Skidmore and
the officers Of the club. who are George
w. Shurman, president: c. ]. Gleason,
secretary; w. A. Lockwood, treasurer.
and p. S. Salemdier, chairman Of the
green committee.
The pump that draws water from the
artesian wells to the tank OF the hill
broke down this morning, leaving the
fireflghtersN virtually without water TO
combat the blaze. 1t was apparent from
the beginning that the clubhouse could
not be saved so all attention was d.
rected to the Maidstone Inn. on which
a rain OF burning embers was falling
The inn was crowded with the usual
week end crowds. and most of these
gathered up their personal belongings
and removed them to places of safety
in automobiles. They then returned to
lend a hand fighting the fire.
Inn Guests Lend a Hand.
At the Maidstone Inn at the time were
Homer e. Sawyer and George Mayo.
vice-presidents of the United states
Rubber Company; Frank L. Branaugh
of New York. William T. Morgan, vice
president OF Cluett. Peabody & Co., collar
manufacturers G. w. Breneman of Gin
cinnati. Mr.. and Mrs. r. De Forest Sim
mons OF New York. Mr. and Mrs. Jean
Sawyer of Boston. Mrs. Robert l.. Lee.
Mrs Charles Carscellen, J. Theus Munds
and Mr.. and Mrs. Paul De L'Aigle Munds
of New York; Mrs Amos Pinchot of
Milford. Pa, sister-in-law of CLIFFORD
Pinchok and Mr.. and Mrs. A. J. Pard-
ridge OF Chicago.
The men aided Ralph c. Frood. man
ager OF the inn. to fill the bathtubs and
pour buckets OF water on the inn roof.
c. e. Morford. Chief of Police. and
George Dover, Fire Chief assumed COM
mand Of the fire fighters who were sum-
moned from Southampton and Seacliff.
This is the second time that the Maid
stone Golf and Tennis Club has been de-
stroyed by fire. The last time was in
1901. The building destroyed yesterday
was Of frame construction throughout,
had n frontage OF $40 feet and was 80
feet I'm depth. The officers of the club
met tonight at the home Of Robert APP
pleton and decided to begin work i'm
mediately on new clubhouse on the
shore front, The new building will be n
brick structure and may possibly cost
5000. 900 to build II first plans are car
ried through. The destroyed building
was covered by an ss5.ooo IN Arance
policy.