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| Thousand Island Park hotel on fire. Photo credit, J. Cooper Stebbins |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, August
29, 1890.
AN APPALLING FIRE.
The Thousand Island Park Hotel Burned to
the Ground—One Woman Loses Her Life—Fourteen Other Buildings Destroyed—Destruction
of $150,000 in Property.
(Correspondence
of the Syracuse Standard.)
THOUSAND
ISLAND PARK, Aug. 21.— The pleasure seekers along the St. Lawrence river who
sat up as late as 1:30 o'clock this morning witnessed the most horrible and yet
the most fascinating sight imaginable. A most disastrous conflagration visited
the famous Thousand Island park at that hour and laid waste an immense amount
of property covering over two acres of land. The flames as they leaped into the
air illuminated the heavens brilliantly and along the river for several miles
it was as bright as day. A newspaper could have been read 10 miles away on the
deserted islands with the aid of nothing but the flames which were rapidly enveloping
the magnificent Thousand Island park hotel.
Only a
slight wind was blowing but so scanty were the facilities for fighting the
flames that the fire spread to other buildings on the Island and caused great
damage. The large hotel and 13 other buildings were burned to the ground. In
the hotel were nearly 500 guests and all escaped with their lives except one
laundress, whose charred body was found in the ruins yesterday afternoon.
Several others, however, were seriously injured.
The hotel
contained 200 rooms and was four stories high. Looming above it was an immense
tower, from which an excellent view of the Islands could be had. Not a stick of
wood was left unburned in the hotel, which was built of wood; other buildings
destroyed were the chapel, the general store of James A. Morris, the gas and
plumbing buildings, the meat market, the barn, the pavilion and Rodgers's dining
hall, all of which are owned by the association. The cottage of O. P. Haddock, Rev.
J. F. Dayan, J. W. Bruce and Dr. Hopkins. All the buildings mentioned were
burned to the ground. The cottage of the Rev. Dr. Horr of New York, and Mr.
Cooper's iron cottage were badly scorched, also several other buildings on the
Island. The post office had a narrow escape. The museum between the post office
and the New England dining hall was slightly scorched.
The
damage to the association's property is estimated at $100,000 and the damage to
the cottages will aggregate $15,000. The damage to the storekeepers and dealers
in novelties will bring the amount up to nearly $125,000. The association has
only $40,000 insurance on its property, everything included. Proprietor Morse,
who rents the general store of the association, had a heavy stock on hand. It
is understood that his insurance policies or part of them ran out August 17,
and that they were not renewed. Mr. Morris went away yesterday to order more
goods. He expects to start in again at another stand. Very little if any
insurance was carried by William Wilson, the proprietor of the meat market. All
of the buildings in the rear of the hotel, which are mentioned above, are owned
by the association and rented out. The gas establishment supplied the gas for
the hotel.
A Standard
reporter was on the scene of the fire. The scene was one of desolation. To
add to the dreadful condition of things a terrible rain and wind storm came up.
This has been the roughest day experienced on the river this year. It was with
difficulty that the boats landed at the dock at Thousand Island park. A high
wind swept over the river all the afternoon and it rained heavily. The oldest
people on the island were heard to remark that if such a gale blew the night of
the fire not a cottage would have been left on the island. There is no order
set at the park and everything appears confused.
Some of
the carpets and matting in the halls of the hotel was saved from the fire; also
the office fixtures and furniture. The books of the association went down to
the cellar with the large safe. The telegraph office and barber shop on the
first floor of the hotel were soon destroyed. Communication was cut off
entirely, but connection has been made and the operator placed his instrument
on a box in the road.
Miss
Warner, a daughter of the proprietor, described to the Standard reporter
her narrow escape from the burning building. She occupied a room on the top
floor and was aroused by the cries of fire.
"I
could have got out with less difficulty," said she, "but for this
horrid tramp, who ran through the halls shouting that there was no fire. If he
heard anybody yelling fire he would run up to them and take them by the throat.
The action of this man has been very strange. Last evening he was seen walking
through the halls of the hotel. He was around just after the fire started,
taking things out of the hotel as if he wanted to save them from the fire. No
one has seen or heard from him since. Some men broke open father's cigar case,
which was laid out on the grass, and stole all the cigars that were in it.
Other goods were also taken off the grounds. No, the men who were playing cards
did not discover the fire first. The janitor, who is a new man in the position,
discovered the fire soon after it broke out, and awakened the guests in the
lower floor. The card men saw the fire and smoke about the same time and
aroused the people on the upper floors."
Miss
Warner was burned slightly about the face and hands.
Others
say that the card players were the first to discover the fire and that no one
else about the building was awake.
"There
is no doubt in my mind," remarked S. V. Warner, "but what the fire
was of incendiary origin. The actions of the man we call a tramp were such as would
arouse suspicion. We call him a tramp because he looked like one. There was not
a fire [stove, lamp, candle] in the building. Yes, some of the fixtures and furniture on the lower floor
were saved, but my loss will be $3,000. I have no insurance."
 |
| Floral Trout Ponds and pavilion were located between East and Owen Avenues, right side of 1894 map. |
A Large
Assemblage of Grangers at the Trout Ponds—A Sensible Address.
If the
weather, prices and field growth of the past season have been adverse to the expectations
of the tillers of the soil certainly a ray of sunlight beamed upon the annual
assembling of the farmers of Cortland county at Floral Trout Park, Wednesday. A more perfect
day for an outing could not have been anticipated. Nine hundred and sixty-five
full tickets were taken up at the entrance and an hour of social intercourse
indulged in before the spreading of tables of tempting viands, the equal of
which can only be encountered at farm houses.
With the
close of the feast came the literary part of the programme, Chairman Brown of
Freetown made the introductory remarks. A piece of music by the Hitchcock
Manufacturing Co.'s band and Mr. J. D. F. Woolston announced that the date of
the committee meeting which had been called for next week, had been postponed
until the first Tuesday in October. Hon. John H. Brigham, of Ohio, master of
the National Grange was then introduced and for upward of an hour and a half
held the undivided attention of the audience.
In
opening, the speaker said: The time has arrived, and it is a comparatively new departure,
for a practical farmer, (and I claim to be a practical farmer, tilling a plot
of ground with the aid of my wife and children), to address an assemblage
instead of depending upon the professions for a supply of orators. It is stated
that we farmers are the bone and sinew of the country, especially about this
time of year or a little later, and by politicians mostly. If we are the bone
and sinew, then there is a work for us to do. Who is to watch over the future
interests of agriculture? If we, ourselves, do the work it will be well and
properly done. It is a widely extended work requiring great attention and labor
to result in other than a complete failure. We can make our power available through
organization and we are compelled by existing conditions to do this; it is
forced upon us. The speaker then pictured the marked contrast existing between the
days of individual capital and the organized capital and gigantic trust
combinations of the present; holding it to be high time for organization for
the promotion and protection of the farmer's interests and to make the
agriculturist's power felt. The medical, legal and other professions have done
this and why not the farmers?
The loud
hue and cry of an over production of our farms is a veritable myth, born in the
interest of the Trust family and is not as represented. Organized concerns and
trust combinations can regulate their over productions by cutting down the hours
of labor of their men and in other ways benefit themselves, hence we find our
great transportation lines most prosperous instead of being crippled through
competition, because they are organized. We next come down to the funeral directors'
association as those that take the last whack at the farmer's estate if he
happens to possess one. What are we going to do about it? Organize for
protection to our own interests, or, like the animal closely pursued by a
dog—climb a tree. We must meet as farmers, as neighbors, and discuss topics of
interest to us. It will pay. Make them occasions for social intercourse. See
the farmer youths who have lost all interest in home for the sole reason of not
being allowed to entertain friends and enjoy social gatherings of their farmer
companions. Let us cultivate a friendly feeling, stop all back-biting, study with
and help one another, bring out new ideas, and above all try to stop
litigation. It is a good work and we should look after our financial interests
ourselves, however, with due respect to the legal profession, it may conflict
with their expectations. We may never fix arbitrary prices; but the time will
come when the farmer will have more to say about the price he shall receive for
the common products of his farm. The price at present is too wide, there must
be a speedy change or there will be little profit to the farmer.
The
speaker did not think the efforts of some to undervalue farm property was beneficial
to the farmer. Of course the land and buildings of the farmer were exposed to
the view of the assessor, yet stock might be driven to an unfrequented ravine for
a time. Let the property show, and all of you, if the people rule as is supposed
to be the case, can make yourselves, your power felt in October or November, as
the case may be, and suppress the abuses of the government, by placing men of worth,
and not putty men, who cannot be bought or swayed, but who have and will look
to the interest and wants of agriculture in our legislative bodies and on committees
having agricultural matters in charge.
The
speaker did not wish it understood that the Grange platform was a church but
that it was a sound institution formed for the interest of the farmer and his
family, and not entirely devoid of politics such was a mistaken idea. [There
was a tremendous outburst of applause at this point]. Continuing he said, they
propose, to adopt the policy most likely to benefit the farmer and if a wise
use was made of the power possessed by farmers then we shall have a party for
the people, by the people and of the people. Therefore, let us farmers
investigate for ourselves and not be dictated to do what is only for the interest
of a few to the exclusion of the masses. Who piled up the millions of dollars
now in the treasury of our country or aided in the building up of the present prosperous
condition if it were not the farmers—the bone and sinew, as they call us now?
Taxes paid out of our hard earned dollars, then are we to sit and say nothing
of methods employed in the expenditure. It must not be allowed to continue for
another quarter of a century; trusts and corporations most not be permitted to have
absolute control, buying the legislature and placing unqualified men in
important positions to look after matters with which they are utter strangers;
but we want to send to Congress and State legislatures men who know the wants
of agriculture, and by such we must be represented; it may not be in this or
the next year, but it will surely come if we but make our power felt, and we
can, as the farmers' vote is nearly 50 per cent of the national vote.
Mr.
Brigham spoke in a clear tone of voice and was exceedingly interesting in relating
stories that were very fitting at different stages of the address.
After a
selection by the band the boat race between Mr. William Petrie of Cuyler, aged
65 years, and Mr. T. Mason Loring of this town, aged 70 years, became the
center of attraction. Loring was the first at the water's edge but Petrie was
outscoring before his opponent had adjusted in the
bow of his boat a wooden compass that had done service 150 years ago—this was
precautionary. Seated face forward, rowing hand over hand stroke, Loring scored
alongside the start. In a moment they were off. Some attraction drew the
[compass] needle and boat speedily near shore while Petrie forged ahead, Loring
calling: "Not quite so fast, William.'' Righting himself, Mr. Loring was
rapidly closing on Mr. Petrie when a dog swam in front of Loring again altering
the course. At this point Mr. Petrie was seen putting in a 34-stroke for the south
shore, allowing Loring to pass. There were two in the boat when Petrie again came
on the course taking the lead and holding to the finish. A foul was allowed the
pioneer navigator when his compass caught on the extra foot bridge as he was nicely
off on the home course. Although beset by a legion of discouraging happenings our
oarsman was no mean second and the committee, through Hon. A. P. Smith, awarded
the honor to the visitor from the country.
Mr. Loring
presented four objections to the decision and was allowed to file the same in
the county clerk's office. Mrs. Petrie enjoyed the efforts of her husband in
the race as well as the ride in the boat. Mr. Loring, it should be stated, was no
mean favorite but he was deaf, apparently, to the many offers to accompany him.
All in
all the day was freighted with genuine profit and enjoyment and may many more
returns be attended. The picnic broke up at 5:30 and all reluctantly departed.
FROM EVERYWHERE.
A street railroad to being built from Auburn
to Owasco lake.
The Inter-state Fair opens at Elmira Sept.
1, and continues to September 12.
T. Kimbark of Genoa has a tame crow that
talks as plain as a parrot and is very mischievous. He has refused $25 for him.
Cherry Valley has a curiosity in the shape of
a horned colt, owned by Orrille Costs, one year old last spring. The horn is about
three and a half inches in length and projects at the lower end about two
inches.
Sperry & Howell, owners of the steam tug
"Clayton" on Cayuga Lake, will make a trip by Cayuga Lake and Erie
canal to Syracuse upon the occasion of the State Fair. The fair announced for
the round trip is only $1.50.
While Dr. Lyman's setter dog was bathing in
the river at Sherburne he suddenly gave a yelp and started for the shore, which
he gained with a two-pound pickerel hanging to his tail. The carnivorous fish
evidently started in to swallow the dog.
The people of Moravia and Niles are much
excited over the report that Austin J. Camp of
the former town has had his daughter, Mrs. Adah Baird, committed to the Utica
Insane asylum as a lunatic, when it is alleged she is in the full possession of
her senses. [More on this story in a future post--CC editor.]
Early in the autumn the Sun, the Times,
the World and other New York dailies
are to begin the use of typesetting machines. It is also
announced that the printer of the Century Magazine is to have his typesetting
done by machinery. A syndicate of book publishers has also made
arrangements to put fifty or a hundred typesetting machines into a
co-operative office, where all the body matter of cheap publications
issued in New York will be turned out.
Recommended:
Thousand Island Park history: http://www.tiparkcorp.com/parkhistory.html
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