Historic Cavett House Destroyed By Blaze

A raging blaze totally destroyed the oceanfront house of the television personality Dick Cavett and his wife, Carrie Nye, an actress, on Tuesday afternoon. The loss was not only a personal tragedy but one mourned by the entire community because of the historic and architectural significance of the stately residence.

Once called "Tick Hall," the structure was one of seven so-called Association Houses on the Montauk bluffs designed by Stanford White before the turn of the century and later designated national landmarks. Mr. Cavett was nearing completion of an extensive renovation at the time of the fire.

Firefighters worked frantically but unsuccessfully to gain control of the flames, which consumed the two-and-a-half-story, wood-framed house, leav ing just a tall stone chimney looming over the burning debris. A huge funnel of smoke could be seen from as far away as Amagansett.

Devastated By News

Mr. Cavett and Ms. Nye, who split their time between Montauk and Manhattan, were not at home at the time of the fire. But they had been there just the previous day. Gregory Donohue, the caretaker, was able to reach them at their apartment in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon. He said they were "devastated" by the news.

"Mr. Cavett said he could not imagine looking up at that hill and not seeing Tick Hall sitting up there," Mr. Donohue told The Star.

Mr. Cavett and Ms. Nye have lived in the house since 1968. Ms. Nye owns the neighboring house, named DeForest Cottage, which is west of the burnt structure. That property is frequently rented out during the summer. The two houses are connected by a winding, wooded path.

Renovation Work

Workers involved in the renovation project had just quit for lunch before the fire began. According to Mr. Donohue, they had been installing lead flashing around a flat roof with a blow torch and using an electric tool with an extension cord.

East Hampton Town Fire Marshal David DiSunno said he was aware of the construction but stressed yesterday that the official cause of the fire had not been determined.

An automatic fire alarm alerted S.C.A.N. Security of the fire at 12:23 p.m. Dennis Snyder, Montauk Fire Department's second assistant chief, was first on the scene and found the house completely engulfed in flames.

Three fire engines, a power ladder, and two tankers responded from the Montauk Fire Department. Additional tankers from East Hampton, Amagansett, and Springs Fire Departments were called in for help. Emergency medical technicians and two ambulances were also on hand in case they were needed.

Access Problems

The firefighters' work was hindered by the isolated location of the house on DeForest Road. Access was through a quarter mile of winding dirt road. The nearest fire hydrant was half a mile away. Montauk Fire Chief Tom Grenci said the firefighters were able to lay down a five-inch hose and use portable hydrants.

Hot burning embers ignited several small brush fires in the wooded area surrounding the house. Firefighters carrying portable squirt cans continuously scanned the site and extinguished them as they began.

Explosions could be heard within the house as huge billowing blasts of flames shot out of the crumbling structure. The intense heat cracked a window of a Montauk Fire Department pumper parked nearby and melted part of the truck's vinyl seat. Chris Carillo, a Montauk fireman, suffered heat exhaustion and was taken to Dr. Gavino Mapula's office for treatment.

Radio Dispute

When Mr. Donohue, the caretaker, arrived on the scene of the fire, his first words were, "Mr. Cavett does not need this right now." He may have been referring to Mr. Cavett's recent widely reported bout of manic depression and the lawsuit that has followed.

In January, Mr. Cavett quit his nationally syndicated radio talk show. He said he couldn't continue because he was suffering from manic depression, an illness that has haunted him throughout his life. In a Newsday article in 1992 Mr. Cavett mentioned the antidepressant medication he was taking.

The Associated Press reported last week that Mr. Cavett was being sued for $35 million by James Moskovitz, the producer of the radio show. Mr. Moskovitz said he spent more than a year and $650,000 to get the show on the air. The three-hour weekday program had its debut on Jan. 6. Mr. Cavett, who signed a two-year, $500,000-a-year contract, last appeared on Jan. 20.

Ready To Work

Mr. Cavett's lawyer, Melvyn Leventhal, said Mr. Cavett would be ready to return to work in about a week. But Mr. Moskovitz has reportedly said he doesn't want him back. The damage has been done, he said.

When the fire was finally extinguished, about two hours after it had begun, Mr. Donohue walked around helplessly trying to salvage anything. He said the house contained precious antiques and Indian relics collected by Mr. Cavett. Before he was chased from the scene by a fire marshal, he was able to find the charred brass bell that had hung under a copper cupola in the watch tower. It was all he found.

The bell tower that stood on the southwestern corner of the veranda was removed by firefighters before it was engulfed by flames. It was the only part of the house to be salvaged.

Among the many distinctive aspects of the structure was an anchor placed atop the chimney by a yacht captain employed by a previous owner, Harrison Tweed. By Tuesday afternoon, the chimney and its anchor were all that remained of the historic residence.