The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-07-14
Ruins of Coney
 Island Searched
(Continued from Page 1)

But 5000 were believed home- less. and many of them slept near here on the sandy shores of the Atlantic, or on army cots rushed here by trucks and set up during the night. Steeplechase park, Brighton Beach avenue, and Ocean parkway became cities of cots from which sleepy, homeless families tumbled to-day to begin their. hunt for new homes, or continue their hunt for jobs with which to pay for new homes.
 Other refugees were housed in Loew's theater, the Shelby hotel' Hotel Eleanor, the Tuxedo theater, and in vacant houses and bunga- lows scattered along the white sand beach that has been a para disc to New York's. sweltering millions.
 others caught by the swiftness of the flames could not return home until morning. They were stranded with little or no clothing. or in bathing suits, with no money when the roaring blaze crackled across 1000 feet of the boardwalk and destroyed most of four square blocks.
 Some became separated from their families. They were garbed in towels, bathing suits or what not as they ran hysterically from group to group, searching rela- lives, or seeking money with which to telephone for help.
 Bremen and police were on the job all night. Many were injured or overcome by smoke. More than 30 were. in the hospital at one time or another during the night. None was seriously hurt.
 Typical was Battalion Chief Bernard Rasmussen of the local fire department who collapsed on the job just after midnight. He had been fighting the fire since 3:30 D. m. Wednesday.
 Two six floor apartment houses that burned after the tinder dry boardwalk buildings were ruined kept many fire companies on the job. Blackened smoke clouds whirled and eddied with the dart ing flames.
 Fire apparatus from lower Man. haitian, 12 companies from nearby districts and two fire boats that pumped water from Coney Island creek helped the local force.
 And over 1t all, over the roaring flames. the surging crowds of New Workers seeking relief from the summer heat, over the terror and confusion, and the flying embers of the gaud, tinselled playground, a dozen airplanes zoomed while blimp loafed lazily among them.
 More than 300 children were lost. But police had restored them to their homes by morning, unless in the confusion, the terror of the early moments of the fire that leaped from building to building. some may have been trapped.
 So far as could be learned early to-day, the rubbish bonfire under the boardwalk, a fire that grew into the greatest Coney Island fire since 1911, left this toll:
 Damage $2,000,000, according to Fire Marshal Thomas P. Brophy.
 About 200 persons received minor injuries treated by ambu- lance surgeons and field hospitals set up near the scene.
 Boardwalk burned along a 1000 foot front, with all adjacent build ings.
 At least 50 dwellings, two large apartment houses, and several ten- ement buildings were destroyed.
 Nearly 200 automobiles parked along streets bridged by the flames were consumed or damaged be- yond repair, Marshal Brophy said.
 New York, July 14-(UP)-Max Qa GA AP Noxxyo rl day claimed to be the most un- lucky victim of the Coney Island fire. He reported to police that he had left his life savings, $2,600, in his shoes at a bath house. Sanger was in the water bathing when the fire started and was unable to get back to his locker.
 Between 10000 and 25.000 vol- umes are added to Oxford's famous library, the Bodleian, every year.