New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-14


hle Nearly forty thousand persons
have crowded into the grounds for I'M
,ortant games since the new STANDS
we're built.
robn 7. McCiraw. manager NJ the
Giants. was in his billiard academy AT
2.th street and Broadway when he
heard of the fire. He jumped into an
automobile and defied the speed laws IN
-oi,g - the scene. But he could 40
,,otbinr save watch the fire and con-
-.,lt " ~ other officials OF the cluo
when h. got there.
cioarette Cause Of Blaze?
The onlv guess any one made at the
~ause Of the fire was that cigarette
dropped in a pile of peanut shells a1ter
yas,erdav's game had been lost 10 the
pbuadelnhis team. started a shoulder
ing fire Anyhow. one OF the nisn'
watchn,en saw a fire few minutes AZ
Ter midnight and called couple or po-
Uceuen. The fire was at the enc oi
the grandstand. and the three men tired
n nut il out with hand grenades. II got
awav from them IN a minute. however
and they had 10 run to escape.
John McCraw. manager Of the Giants
and Bugs" Raymond the pitcher. We're
the first of the Giants TO reach the
scene. McGraw said he wanted to play
rbis afternoons game at the Polo
Grounds. and would If the Bureau of
Buildings would let him. The left and
centre field bleachers, seating about
q 600. are standing. and McGraw wants
20 nut chairs I'm. too
William NJ. Gray said that II Nc
r,rsv's plans couldn't be carried out ne
would trv II get the use Of American
League Park. which is almost ready for
he opening game of the Yankees on
thursday next
Rsvnond said there vas fire under
+he grandstand YESTERDAY afternoon
u.bile the game was being played. He
end others put il out in hurry ana
tho spectators knew nothing OF IT, A
disaster at the Polo Grounds IN case
~ fire has often been predicted. ana
those who realized the danger heaved
si-h of relief when they thought OF the
time when the fire did come.
The hest guess that could be made al
the probable loss this morning was that
&, would be between $4,000 and 500
oo0
Tremendous crowds gathered N wa'cn
the FIRE from every vantage point u
~ the heights cf the Speedway and ON
In. other side Of the Harlem masses of
people kept the police busy. watching
the terrinc rush Of the flames that
leaped and surged iu all directions and
converted the whole huge amphitheatre
into p very sea " flame.
rhe fire spread quickly 10 the repair
shops ana the structure of tho elevated
railway ~ the north. and in the shops
A. least thirty cars we're quickly burned
Tho grounds arc in a depression
marsh land having been reclaimed TO
make them. and rhe high fences on
every side. built 10 bar small ooVs aho
others who like baseball and lack
rronev. served 10 bar the Are fighters
The Gre spread so quickly 20 the ele-
waited road that that vantage point for
ashtng the flames was quickly out OF
The question. 10 the north at least
Famed by Strong Wind
The southwest wind sent the flames
driving across the stands, and leit the
eastern stands as the only portion tnere
vas a chance of saving. In that quar-
ter. cccupied by the uncovered Dleach-
ery the clubhouse and the main en-
trance. the spread of the flames was
halted bat everywhere else they worheu
their way almost unchecked. To get
streams OF water that would make any
impression on that volcano seemed I'M
possible The fire was under control al
10 o'clock this morning.
Fire completely destroyed the wooden
lark ef the Washington Amefl'aI'
lie, que team less than month aG' Du'
remarkable record fer speedy rebuiid-
ing was made. and the season was
opened there ON "Wednesday IN ne"
s'eei and concrete park fhat had oeen
made ready in three weeks 20 large
park as the Giants require can hardly be
Ooii IN that time but the officials oi the
cluo John e. Brush the president VIII
'am u. Gray the secretary. ana i'fihei
'ofporatiOn Counsel John T. NnaIeh'
ueasuEor, were busy even while the
names We're raging in making pla FOR
new park
6leschers Still Standing.
At O'Clock this morning only the
'leachers al the east were standing. Be-
cause 0f the depression IN which the
ground arc situated. under a blum and