Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-14
New York Giants Ball Grounds
Prey to Flames.
GRANDSTANDS TOTAL LOSS
Club May Be Compelled to Transfer
Games for Some Time.
ESTIMATE LOSS AT $25o,000
Blaze Thought to Have Been Caused
by Cigarette Thrown Among Pea
nut Shells and Paper.

NEW YORK. April 14.-"Although the
damage to the Polo Grounds, In my opin-
ion, will easily amount to $2JO,OOO. i
believe that II we can get in touch with
the officials OF the fire department and the
building department we can clear away
the debris and place chairs about so that
the game scheduled for today can be
held on these grounds said John j.
McGraw, manager of the New York
Giants, early this morning, while he was
looking over the scene Of the fire that
destroyed the grandstand at the home
Of the New York National League club
on the eve of the third base ball game
Of the season. Manager McGraw added
that II it were found that the game to-
day could not be played at the Polo
Grounds it would be played at American
League Park. on Washington Heights.
Starting a half hour after midnight
this morning, the flames within fifteen
minutes were greedily devouring the big
grandstand, and the hope of saving it was
given UP. Only the work Of the firemen
In separating into two parts the vast
oval OF seats by means Of water curtains,
one on the north and one on the south.
sth avenue and the bleachers at the
easterly end Of the grounds.
The fire after eating its way from the
south end of the grandstand to the north
end. set fire to the repair shops of the
elevated terminus Of the Interborough
Railway Company, which abuts against
the fence surrounding the grandstand.
Although employees Of the railway COM
pany who were in the repair shopAwhen
the fire gained headway fought theVblaze
seven trailer cars. valued at 5000 each,
were destroyed. as well as four electric
motors stored in the repair shops, valued
at $4,000.
Destroyed in Two Hours.
Shortly after o'clock this morning
all that remained of the grandstand was
a mass of twisted girders and a heap of
smoldering embers. The f1remen play ed
the water upon the smoking ruins until
daylight.
Catcher Hartley of the Giants In the
afternoon discovered fire underneath the
grandstand near where this mornings
fire started. Manager McGraw said this
morning that the fire was brought to his
attention and that he and a number Of
his team chopped away a portion of the
grandstand and threw water on the blaze
He thought it probable that the fire which
destroyed the grandstand had It's origin
in sparks left from yesterdays blaze.
Three fremen playing water on the north
side OF the grand stand stood on a plat
form which collapsed under them. They
were thrown into mass Of smOldering
embers. They and three other firemen
who pulled them out Of danger were pain
fully burned about the face and body.
Secretary w. NJ. Gray Of the New York
National League club announced shortly
before 9 o'clock this morning that it had
been decided to call todays game off.
There will be no base ball game at
the Polo grounds today" said Secretary
a for the ninee plans Wen navs yet set
gether later in the day something will
be decided upon and then statement
will be made"
Biggest Base Ball Arena in Country.
The Polo Grounds are at the foot of
historic Coogan's bluff, in the upper part
Of the city-the biggest base ball arena
in the country.
Whether the four games scheduled with
Brooklyn the 18th, 18th. 18th and 18th
can be played is problematical. The
baeachers which remain will seat about
5000 persons. and Manager McGraw
hopes to obtain permission from the un-
derwriters and the city authorities to
use these while adjustments and repairs
are under way.
The burned grandstand was construct
ed of wood and steel. Much of the steel
work is so damaged by the fire that it
will have to be replaced. and it is esti-
mated that even under the most perfect
working conditions new stand cannot
be constructed within several weeks.
Definite computation of the loss will be
difficult until a careful survey of the
wrecked grandstands can be mads by the
engineers. Manager McGraw, surveying
the ruins with long face at daybreak,
thought 1t mighty reach $2jO,OO Fire
department officials were more conserva-
tive and declared that $4,000 would
probably cover the damage. In addition
to these estimates the owner and man.
ager will have to figure on a heavy
shrinkage in the seasons receipts from
lack of seating facilities for some time
to come.
May Have Been Caused by Cigarette.
The fire started a half hour after mid
night. A match or a glowing cigarette
thrown careless aside to find a resting
place in peanut shells or rubbish was
probably the cause. 1t was a hard fire to
fight and had long start before the first
engines reached the scene in response to
policeman's alarm. Twenty engines
and two fire boats worked until after
dawn on the dull red embers, sending up
clouds of steam and saturating the upper
city with the odor Of burning wood.
Low water pressure, due to repair work
in progress on the water mains, enabled
the fire to do more damage than would
ordinarily have been possible. A new
water tank, standing to the north Of the
grounds and constructed for just such
an emergency, would have been ready
for service tomorrow.
The destruction of the stands and the
wooden approaches has often been prophe-
sled. Chief Croker has repeatedly called
attention to the danger. The scenes at
the grounds Wednesday, when the
season opened. led observers to believe
that a complaint should be lodged with
the fire commissioner. and several of the
newspapers urged the danger Of tre-
mendous loss OF life in case of a blaze.
On the occasion of the opening game,
very particularly. fans made no effort to
keep papers and other loose and in
fiammable material In hand, but let them
go with the wind.
In the opinion Of members Of the team
the burning Of the grandstand, spic and
span In its Easter raiment of paint, marks
the passing Of wooden grandstands at the
Polo Grounds for all time. Before break
fast Manager McGraw began a long con-
sultation as to future plans with Secre-
tary Gray and John T. Brush. the owner
81 the team Praafdant Rr,,sh ba. o<x-.