The evening world., 1893-11-04
FIRE ON A R~ACETRACK.
A Stable at Clifton Burned and a
Sleeping Hostler Killed.
Ten Horses Roasted Alive in
the Building.
-
Rumor that Another Alan Lest
His Life.

PASSAIC. ". j., Nov. A terrible
fire. In which one man and ten valua-
BILE horses were burned to death, oc-
Cured at the Clifton race track early
this morning. The fire was in the big
stable at the entrance to the paddock.
The stable was owned by President
George Engemnn. on the second floor
William FIREMAN. an aged cripple, who
for years had been employed about the
track, as a stable hand and to take care
Of the horses. occupied a room.
The grain ana feed for the horses
were also stored ir this loft, on the
first floor were eleven horseshoe thor
oughbred. an unnamed three-year-old
colt 10y imp. Richmond. one fast PAGER.
three trotters and six WORK horses.
Two stable hands, Patrick Mcahan,
father OF the one time famous Jockey,
George Mcahan. and George .enahan.
had their rooms on this floor. The horses
and shortly afterwards the stable was
locked and the men retired.
At .lD O'Clock AicAnan and Lenahan
rushed. from the stable only Partially
later the whole building was ablaZe. and
the flames were beyond control.
Messengers were Immediately sent 70
~I'assaic for all.
As the fire was outside til, city limits
the permission OF Mayor Brown had to
be obtained before the companies could
o'clock before Chief. KELLEY. with En-
CINE Company No. /. appeared on the
scene.
BY this time the fire had nearly spent
itself. and but little could be done by
the iremen.
Before the big stable doors could be
thrown open the. whole barn was a
mass OF blaze. and the agonizing whin-
/ niaa NJ the imnTigpppl animals was
pitiful to hear.
When the door was finally gotten open
Dick, n horse belonging to a team OF
fast roadsters, rushed out. and was the
only one saved,
Efforts were made to get at the room
occupied by Brennan, but the floor of
the barn fell. burying the man, before h
heard outside the stable, and told of
the awful struggle for life. coins on
inside.
escape by descending was cut off by tht
flames. and that Brennan made an effort
to batter down the sides OF the barn.
Brennan, or shorty Smith" as he wat
better known, was a char
acter about the race tracks and ConeI
Island. lie lived on Henry street ir
this city.
The fire vas put cut about 6 o'clock
Assistan. Track Superintendent Charlie
Harvey was first on the scene, closel,
followed by Supt. Jim Glare and his sci
FRANK.
Immediately In the rear of the bi,
sta BILE is a traininr-stahle. containing al
Of the race horses belonging TO Franz
Engeman, a son of President Engeman
and the attention OF the men was a
once directed to them.
The horses, including Judge Post, wer,
Immediately removed, and by hard worl
the fire was kept from spreading.
Just how the fire originated. could no
be learned. Brennan does not smoke
and the theory hat he had dropped
cigar In the loft Is exploded. 1t IL be
lieved that somebody dropped n cigar II
tie hay or grain during the Afternoon
and 1t smouldered into a blaze.
The idea that the fire was the work o
incendiaries is secuted by all. The wor
OF clearing the debris brought n horribl
sight to view.
On top OF n number OF horses wa
found the body of Brennan burned a.
most beyond recognition. He was re
moved to the Passaic Morgue, .wher
the body will be kept until friend
claim It..
The bodies OF the horses were nearl
all piled in a heap at one end OF tn
barn. all of them having broken loos
q from their stalls.
The loss Is about. $40. 0O0, The barn wa
4 insured for 81, 500. The horses nearly Il
belonged to Supt. Jim Clare and his soI
e and some were quite valuable. The thol
oughbred was valued AT $500, None
. the horses was insured.
1t was reported that another mar
. whose name Is unknown, was sleepin
i with brennan and was also burned I
= death, but this is denied by Asslstar
Supt. Harvey.