New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-13
1T BURNED LIKE FINDER.
THE GRANDSTAND AT THE BRIGHTON
} BEACH RACETRACK DESTROYED.

HORSES AND THREATENED BUILDINGS SAVED BY
THE GOOD WORK OF THE PREVENTIVE
FIRE NOT AN uNMIXED EVIL.
The large grandstand at the Brighton Beach
'racetrack on Coney Island. destroyed by fire
yesterday morning the damage being about *io'W,
partly covered by insurance. The fire broke out al
$40 O'clock and was discovered by the superintend
ent OF the track James Clair who lives nearby
He had left his house. and, walking toward the
track. smoke issuing from the upper part OF
the grandstand. John Quigley, the night watch
man, who is on duty from o'clock at night until
z In the morning. had small stove In the main
Office under the stand the entrance. and he
had let his fire go nearly out at o'clock yesterday
morning. Fifteen minutes later he left the build
ing and locked the door. Mr.. Clair. when ne saw
the smoke Immediately thought of the stove. rushed
TO the office and burst open the door He found
that the fire in the stove had gone out, and that
the smokeless. He picked up an ex-
tnguisher and tried get upstairs. but was driven
back by the smoke
He Immediately rang In alarm. which was
quickly responded to. At Brighton there are only
three fire hydrants far apart and that hampered
the firemen. Before they could get stream play
ing the fire the entire grandstand was In names.
The stand built largely OF pine and piazed
fiercely under the strong wind which was blowing
from the
Alfred Lakeland. John Green and Messrs Rayiord
and Chandler. whose stables adioined the grand
stand the west, got all their horses out 10
place of safety.
The firemen worked hard to save the adjoining
buildings. and succeeded in saving the stables ana
Masons Hotel which were threatened
A small portion of the elevated railroad structure
of the line running TO West Brighton was party
burned. A number Of horses were stabbed at the
track and in training but none were injured
The grandstand proper was 300 feet long and 100
feet wide. Directly adjoining it stand 200
raaf lopcr nd feet. Wild In
about 5000 chairs. all Of which were burned as was
With viii thirty thirty five Sbb ooTmakers' sails
The origin Of the fire is mater OF conjecture 4
and the ignition of hay is also given as the source
This is the first fire the fremen had attended since
they were regularly appointed asst Monday Inc
fire removed one Of the landmarks OF racing in the
neighborhood Of this city Jerome Parks niGui,
byword at the closing meeting held upon that
track are to be WIPED out With water Fre alone
yesterday is gratefully received by every racegoer
sbssk srnciure ths served IN as grandsand at
brighton Beach. When William Enseman construct
the success of his venture, and built the grandstand
in such manner that II would be an easy task to
When the structure boarded in and sealed not
single breath Of air from the ocean c3ud pene
their friends assembled Moreover' the management
.n hs od % Of f
ssh Z, sesc9 3r has been n the path
s.ssory tho cSneS 9 Island SOsssy Club stsemgtsi
TO purchase the Brighton Beach racetrack and 10
make the grounds buildings and courses the model
OF American racetracks The bargain was almost
struck. but at the last minute William Engeman
refused to complete the transaction. Leonard w
Jerome, who represented the Coney Island Jockey
Club. was approe ched and ofer OF a salary or
$4,000 a year and a ten years contract was made
TO him 10 become the president OF the Brighton
Beach Racing Association. He declined the Offer
and the result was the Sheepshe id Ray racetrack
and grounds, the Of the greatest equine
tests ever held in this country .''|
Brighton Beach the birthplace of winter
racing. as meeting held in 1885 was prolonged
through stormy. incemert weather at profit. and
winter racing at Clifton. Ciuttenburg and Gouces-
ter followed
The fire of yesterday removed the grandstand
but the track. with its sharp turns and narrow
stretches. remains. Although the management at
Brighton has not expended a single doll II i'm
provements ii is likely that new grandstand viii
be erected tn other side Of the track facing
what is now the backstretch. and therefore ii W II
face the
Although many famous races were rum and
many famous horses started in them, without
doubt the greatest contest ever at Brighton
Beach was the race in which Freeland lowered the
quarter. In recent years high class horses
raced at Brighton, but their appearance at Brigh-
ton, when racing in opposition 10 Morris Park
was on account Of piQue manifested by punging
owner against the management OF Morris Park.
Every tongue of flame, every spark that went up
from the blazing grandstand at Brighton repre-
eented maledictiOn a curse Of some unfortu-
nate wretch who played form" at Brighton. The
be compared to the deep. long-drawn signs Of the
luckless wghts who be: the favoriies the
track ny the
Moreover. Brighton more than any other course
horde Of turf Vandals Of like ilk. There is weep
ing and wailing amid the sand dunes for IL a re-
spectacle Srandstand is erected and the surround
ings all made clean and wholesome MANY of the
o. n n 10 h.gl