The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-07

PHILADELPHIA, Aug u,
N CIGARETTE cast away by small
jA( boy in the pavilion Of the Phila-
IN delphia ball ground at Broad ana
IL ! Huntington streets this morning
started fire that completely destroyed
the grand stand and bleachers and
wrecked aud ruined the ground for
further play this year The fumes
spread across TO the adjoining stables
OF the Omnibus company, general, gut.
ting them. Some eight or nine small
houses in the vicinity and the roof Of
the Philadelphia Traction companys
stables were also damaged before the
lire was eXtinEuished The total loss is
estimated at about 800, 900, with nearly
a complete Insurance.
About 1870 this morning the men,
bers of the Philadelphia Ball club wera
practlcing on the ground and they had
on interesting audience of small ur
chins, who had crawlad into the grand
stand One Of these boys threw a
lighted cigarette under seat in the
middle OF the pavilion and it probably
ignit9d some rubbish that set fire to
the woodwork The fl lmes had made
some progress before they were noticed
and several Intellectual attempts on the
players part to eXtinguish them An
alarm was turned in for the engines
The blazing sun Of July and lack of
rain had made the woodwork in the
stand as dry as tinder and famed by a
good breeze the flames We're soon in
complete possession of the entire pavi-
lion.
GENERAL ALARM SOUNDED.
They leaped across Fifteenth street
in solid volume and fairly blanketed
the roof of she Omnibus company's sta.
bles. Seeing they were unable to cope
with the flames the firemen turned in
second, third and fourth alarm in quick
succession and all the available engines
in the city responded Despite every
effort the grand stand of the ball club
was burned to the ground and the right
and left field bleacners with it. After
the fall of tine grand stand the flames
subsidized and the tiremen succeeded in
preventing the entire destruction of the
stables Of the Omnibus company. The
roof OF the Traction cOmpany's car
house was slightly damaged by the
ii mes and some small residences on
Fifteenth street and Huntington street
facing the ball park, were also scorched
by the flames.
In the stables of the Omnibus com.
pany were several hundred horses ut
the time the fire broke out and num-
humber of buses, but all the animals
and vehicles were gotten out in safety.
GRAND STAND DESTROYED.
The grand stand and bleachers of
the Philadelphia Ball club cost about
100000 and they are completely de.
stroyed. but as the expensive founda-
tious of the pavilion nre not injured the
loss to the Messrs Rogers and Reach
will not exceed $50 000 On ttis they
have have an insurance O. $50, 900. The
damage to the "nus" complny's sta
bles WIS $40, 600, which was fully Gov
cred by insurance. The rest of the
damage will probably not exceed S25.-
600, and this is scattered in some ten or
twelve properties, all Of which are in
sured.
The Philadelphia club left tonight
for Boston and are to play here on Sat
urday with the Washington club
Their season ends on the home grounds
on Sept 8, and as the damage to their
park cannot be repaired within that
time, the club will use the grounds of
the University of Pennsylvania at
Tnirty-fourth and Woodland avenur
for the rest OF the games here, as will
also the Philadelphia State league
team.