Monday, August 10, 2015

FIRE AT THOUSAND ISLAND PARK HOTEL


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.
THE FARMERS' PICNIC.
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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