The New York herald., 1922-06-17
ARVERNE'SLOSSDUE
TO LACK OF WATER
Sixty-eight Companies Had
No Streams to Stop Con-
flagration.
CITY STARTS INQUIRY
Mayor Promises Supply for
Threatened Resorts in
the Rockaways.
RELIEF WORK SPEEDED
-
Hundreds Of Homeless Get
Temporary Shelter-Van-
dals Quickly Seized.
RELIEF WORK sPEEDED


Mayor Hylan stated after an inspec-
ton that such was the cause and took
steps to provide some temporary re-
lief for future protection for the Sec
ton.
This peril had been recognized by
city officials for years. Mains are
being laid, but will not be completed
for two years. When the crisis came
late Thursday a fair sized resort with
in the metropolis was as helpless as
if it had been in a desert.
Surrounded by water, the firemen
had not sufficient pressure to throw
a ten foot stream. The hose could not
carry to the second floors of the little
bungalows.
Engine No. 265 of the Arverne Fire
Department was destroyed by fire.
The danger was so apparent that the
loss Is not more than one-third COW
cred by insurance, because of prohibi-
tive rates.
other Sections in Same Danger.
Arverne Is not alone In this peril.
City officials and fire insurance men
said that other great sections along the
beaches from Coney Island to Far
Rockaway would be wiped out IN a
few hours IL fire got started.
While an army Of firemen from
sixty-eight companies. one of the
greatest forces Of fire fighters ever
assembled, stood by they saw the sheet
OF flames sweep up five blocks and were
as helpless as IL they held toy nozzles.
Thousands of persons, many OF them
women and children, remained near
their ruined homes all night. Others
slept on the beaches and found refuge
in the neighboring hotels and cottages.
All doors were thrown open to the
homeless. There was little suffering.
The Red Cross. Knights OF Columbus
and Salvation Army were quickly on
the scene with relief and worked all
day to aid the homeless.
The Mayor and Commissioners
Whalen and Hirshfield went to Arverne
early in the day and inspected the
ruins, the water system and the fire
apparatus. 1t was charged first that
much of the loss had been due to lack
of fire apparatus and to rotten nose.
which burst the moment water was
turned on. That was later said to be
incorrect
Investigation showed there was ap-
paratus enough in the streets to have
ouenched the flames in three minutes
had it been supplied with water. And
there was not pressure enough to burst
i garden hose.
Private Companies Blamed.
When the Mayor returned to City
Hall he said:
ceiyed, the Fire Department was
handicapped greatly in fighting the
fire because OF bad water pressure.
Private water companies supply that
entire section. / am going to order the
Commissioner of Water Supply to
hurry plans for extending the city
water system throughout the length
and breadth Of the Rockaways. When
we get city mains there we Will not
have to worry about lack of pressure.
The Board of Trade of Rockaway and
Aryerne at once formed a committee to
call on the Mayor and demand that
something be done. Headed by John
wainwright, Arverne property owner
and proprietor of many amusement
places along the ocean front. and An
drew Kenny the delegation called at
City Hall in the afternoon and saw
tn Mayor.
The Mayor told the delegation at the
close Of the conference that he would
appoint a committee consisting OF tne
Fire Commissioner, Fire Chief and the
Commissioners of Plant and structures
and Docks to arrange for temporary
relief.
II Is proposed to tap jamaica Bay
and run mains up the boulevard. Then
with fire engine in the bay close to
Aryerne adequate salt water supply
may be obtained for fire fighting pur-
noses. This will be done as quickly as
a fireboat can be equipped. 1t will take
three or four months at least. In the
meantime probably nothing can be done.
About $50 Buildings Lost.
When the fire was put out at about
sunrise Il was found that eighty-three
residences. fifty-three bungalows, ten
hotels and boarding houses. Coast Guard
station No. 81. the Israel Orphan Home.
the Ideal Lundry and the Jerome Baths
had been destroyed. The hotels included
the Nautilus with sixty rooms. where
the fire started; the Grand View. Eliza
beth House, the Beach Apartments, Rob-
ert Burns House, Alexandra House. the
Plaza and several smaller ones.
Looting began at dayreak as soon as
the fire was out and 100 policemen were
sent TO seize all thieves. Several ar
rests were made under the authority Of
Police Lieut.. John Hackett of Queens.
Albert Anderson Of $40 East Thirty
second street was arrested charged with
having in his possession a quantity of
stolen wearing apparel. Timothy Muir.
phv of $50 West Thirtieth street was
arrested on the same charge. Police
stopped a taxicab and arrested the driver
and three men who had bag containing
5000 worth of articles. Other arrests
were made in the afternoon.
The Arverne Hotel Association posted
signs notifying all refugees that they
would be cared for at any of It's hotels
A mass meeting has been arranged for
tonight to raise funds for the homeless
Many who were burned out were In the
cottages for the summer and returned
to the city. Others are year round resi-
dents. The summer population is about
200. 900 and In winter about $4,000. The
personal property loss was estimated at
100000 and the real estate loss at
s1,700,00.
The Red Cross established headquar-
ters at noon and was prepared to sup
ply food clothing and sSelter for AL