FIRE DESTROYS FLORIDA HOTEL.

GUESTS WERE WARNED IN TIME TO ESCAPE.

CLARENDON HOTEL, AT SEABREEZE, FLA., WAS BURNED YESTERDAY MORNING -- THE LOSS WILL BE ABOUT $200,000 -- TEN COTTAGES ALSO DESTROYED.

Daytona, Fla. February 14 -- The Hotel Clarendon, at Sea Breeze, one of the largest hotels on the east coast together with ten cottages adjoining the house was totally destroyed by fire at 5:30 o'clock this morning, the 215 guests, who were asleep at the time being saved without injury and many being able to gather up most of their belongings.
When the blaze was discovered the night clerk rushed the help to each room notifying guests who made their way hurriedly to the streets. At one time the blaze appeared to be under control but the wind shifted and it broke out anew and in less than three quarters of an hour the entire building was burned.
The ten collages owned by H. R. KOCHERSPERGER caught from sparks and all were burning at the same time. The hotel was a wooden structure valued at $200,000 and was insured for about 40 per cent.

Fire Started Under Kitchen.
The fire was discovered by the bakers who were just going to work. It originated in the coal bins under the kitchen and at first it seemed that the fire extinguishers would do the work but there was some difficulty in getting the water faucets to working and seeing that the fire was beyond control the guests were notified to run for their lives.
Twelve extra policemen were called out, and they did excellent work. The roof of the Cherokee home of MR. KOCHERSPERGER, caught from sparks and but for the heroic efforts of MR. GILSON, a guest of the Seaside Inn, and others who climbed to the roof, it would have been destroyed.
The Clarendon was just beginning the season, which promised to be its most prosperous. Every room in the big hotel was engaged.

Prominent Guests.
Among the prominent guests at the hotel were:
MR. and MRS. F. G. SMITH.
MR. and MRS. G. L. SMITH.
MISS MORA SMITH and maid.
MRS. CHARLES ROW of Detroit.
MRS. J. A. LEMCKE and MISS LEMCKE, and FRED HILY, Cincinnati, Ohio.
MRS. J. W. HOWARD, Detroit.
MR. and MRS. SUYDEN and child, Cincinnati.
A. W. STRONG, Chicago.
MRS. KATE KNOX and MRS. SARAH C. WELLS, Chicago.
MRS. ELIZABETH C. SQUIRES and C. H. GOSBY, Terre Haute, Ind.
MR. and MRS. GEORGE A. CHRISTIAN and maid, Minneapolis.
MRS. PAUL E. DAVIS and son, Detroit.
MRS. MARY B. BROWNELL, Detroit.
MR. and MRS. J. C. GREGORY, Newark, N. J.
MISS LAUTERBACK, New York City.
MR. and MRS. A. H. HARTMAN, New York City.
MR. and MRS. Z. D. BERRY, New York City.
MISS MARY KERNO, Syracuse, N. Y.
MR. and MRS. GEORGE SELDON, Erie, Pa.
MRS. J. B. and A. J. COOK, Bellfont, Pa.
W. O. SAXTON, New York.

The Atlanta Constitution Georgia 1909-02-15

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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!