Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-04
$125,OOO FIRE LOSS
(CnnAin..al a.
CONTINUED from Page One)


the ninety guests were brought to
Portland in various yachts and mo-
lorpoats, While some were given shell
ter at cottages on the island it was
impossible to determine definitely
whether any persons were missing.
Irving OHara of 10 Monitor Street,
Brooklyn, Cady's roommate, was re-
ported as missing, but it had not
been learned whether he also was a
victim of the fire when reporters
from here left the island, which is
without telephone communica ton.
After consuming the motel and sur
rounding buildings, the embers were
carried by a brisk southeast wind to
the grass and under brush in the rear
of the hotel, an area of about three
acres were burned over before the
first was brought under control. Cot
taSes and two other summer hotels
at the northern end of the island
were threatened for a time, but were
protected from the embers by wet
blankets and the efforts of hastily
formed bucket brigades.
Word was received from New York
that Detective Irving A. OHara. May
or Hylan's brother-in-law, denied that
Cady was nephew of the mayor. AS
guests We're quite sure one of the
young men bore that relationship. it
seemed probable that OIIara was the
one.
Cady, who had just arrived on the
island by the noon steamer was in his
room on the second floor of the annex
with O'Hara. When he found his exit
to the stairway had been cut off he
smashed out a screen and jumped to
the ground. He was fatally burned
about the face and chest. Cady contin-
ued to ask for information about his
companion until he became uncon-
scious at the hospital but none was
available.
A few minutes after the discovery
of the fire, thought to have been caused
by a cigarette stub carclcssly thrown
under the main steps leading to the
hotel. a man, believed to be Randall,
jumped from a second story window on
the side of the hotel facing the tennis
courts. His clothing was all ablaze.
Two young men attempted to reach
him but were unable to do so because
of the intense heat. He was burned to
crisp. A trunk check was the only
means of identification.
The fire spread so quickly that it
was impossible for any of the guests to
save their personal belongings and it
IS understood that one person lost
$4,000 worth of jewelry.
The hotel proper was the first
building to catch fire. but the flames
spread to the annex about 200 feet
away in few minutes. John A.
Cady, who was severely burned, was
sleeping in his room on the second
floor of the annex and made his es-
cape by jumping from the window.
When he was discovered, his clothing
was ablaZe.
Cyril York of Chebague was Sc
verely burned in putting out the fire
on Cady's clothing.
One of the bellboys at the hotel
was seen to fall from the roof but
he is believed to be safe. The volun-
teers who came to fight the flames,
first removed the gasoline which was
near the hotel and used to pump
water in operating the dynamo. 1t
was rolled over an embankment, thus
averting an explosion.
The fireboat from Portland aided
bucket brigade in fighting the flames.
as did the coastguard cutter Ossipee.
During the height of the blaze, a
1900 gallon water tank in back of the
hotel collapsed and the water fell
oHIo lHe burning mass, out tnlS de-
LUCE did not check the flames.
The buildings burned were the Ho-
tel Hillcrest, the annex in which the
dance hall was located, the Bay View
the home of Captain Seaburry in the
rear of the hotel, the mattresses
home and the home of the owner of
the hotel, Charles Hamilton.k
Mr.. Cady was rushed in a motor
boat to the Maine General Hospital
in this city where he died at 10
o'clock this evening.