Arverne, New York Fire
June 15, 1922
New York, June 15.--Fire swept through
the seashore bungalow colony at Arverne, between
Rockaway and Far Rockaway tonight and destroyed
between 600 and 700 buildings. More than
as core of colonists, overcome by smoke while
fighting to save their effects, were rescued by
firemen and policemen.
Fire Boats from New York. Fire boats,
sent from New York, fought the fire from the
bay.
Every structure in a five block area was
destroyed. Eighty residences valued from
$15,000 to $25,000 each, seventy-five bungalows
valued at $5,000 each and fifteen hotels and
boarding houses, valued at $40,000 to $50,000
each, were destroyed.
Seven engine companies, sent from New York,
aided the volunteer fire fighting companies from
Beach resorts. After three hours the blaze
was reported under control.
An entire section of small bungalows was
dynamited in attempt to arrest the flames and
several firemen were hurt in this operation.
Many women and men overcome by smoke, were
rescued by firemen and police and taken to the
hospitals. Thirty firemen suffered burns
and slight injuries.
The Bridgeport Telegram, Bridgeport,
CT, 16 Jun 1922
ARVERNE, N.Y. June 16-- With 15,000
persons homeless and sixteen blocks of Arverne
in smoking ruins, police today were searching
for the cause of the conflagration which swept
100 buildings in this New York suburb last
night, causing a
 total
loss of $2,000,000.
The fire started in the Hotel Nautilis with a
sound like an explosion. It spread with
starting rapidly, leaping from one block to
another, and devouring hotel and handsome summer
residences, a railway station and an orphanage,
and many other buildings so quickly the
occupants had barely time to escape.
Ruins were being combed today for possible
victims. An ambulance surgeon said he saw
one man buried beneath a falling wall, while a
blind man is declared by spectators to have been
seen, hemmed in by flames, frantically dashing
about in all directions, seeking escape.
He is believed to have perished.
Hundreds flee homes. Scenes during the
spread of flames from Jamaica Bay to the ocean
across a half mile strip were reminiscent of an
exodus of village of a war zone. Hundreds
of homeless and others who feared they would be
trapped by the far flung advancing line of fire,
clogged the roads leading from Arverne and
Edgemore.
Dashing in the other direction came fire
apparatus from all parts of Long Island,
including Brooklyn, whirling through little
seaside villages with showers of sparks and a
roar that aroused inhabitants and sent many
hurrying to watch the fire.
The resulting confusion turned roads in the
Arverne section of Long Island into a null race
of humanity and police reserves were called out.
many of the homeless were unfamiliar with the
district, having come to Arverne for the summer
and homes had to be found for these for the
night. ...
Many babies rescued from the Jewish
orphanage, which was burned to the ground were
carried miles to safety. A bungalow colony
on the bay was wiped out of existence.
"Smokey Joe" Martin, famous fire chief,
fought the flames at one point single handed and
was severely scorched by the terrific heat.
He refused to go to the rear, although his men
pleaded with him. When he and won out
against the advancing wall of fire, "Smokey Joe"
stumbled back...
Port
Arthur Daily News, Port Arthur, TX, 16 Jun 1922
Other reports refer to the hotel where the
fire started as the Hotel Nautilin.
One hundred and fifty children in Israel
Orphan Asylum were marched from the building as
flames licked its walls. They were housed
in a hotel outside the fire area. The
orphanage was destroyed.
A ravine lies in a narrow part of Rockaway
Peninsula and stretching across Jamaica Bay to
the sea. The blaze, believed to have been
started in Hotel Northless spread to the light
wooden bungalows on the bay side and destroyed
several boarding houses.
The Chillicothe Constitution,
Chillicothe, MO 17 Jun 1922
The Israel Orphan asylum was destroyed, but
the children were removed safely to Rockaway
Park before the flames reached the building.
The Long Island railroad station and the coast
guard station were also burned.
Oneonta Daily Star, Oneonta, NY, 16 Jun
1922
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