Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-16
Stables at the Famous Old
Race Track Are Burned.
PERIL TO NEARBY HOUSES
Only Absence of Wind Saved Them
From Destruction.
UNABLE TO CHECK FLAMES
Lack of Water Made Fighting Fire
mpossible-Noted Track
in Early Days.

The st. Asaph race track stables.
known the country over, are this aft
ernoon but smoldering pile of ashes.
Fire. which started shortly before noon
today in the old stables at the south
end Of the track, quickly devoured
them. A match, carelessly dropped. is
supposed to have caused the fire.
When the fire started. a number OF
workmen were about the place making
some repairs preparatory to the open
ing, II Is said. of an agricultural fair on
the grounds next fall. In less than
fifteen minutes all of the stables were
in flames and clouds of dense black
smoke enveloped the surrounding sub
urbs.
The fire for a time threatened a
number Of buildings on the south of
the old stables, as well as the handsome
Mount Vernon avenue schoolhouse, locat
ed directly south Of the burning
structures
No Water Supply.
Many people living in that vicinity
gathered around the stables and
watched the progress Of the flames. In
view Of the fact that there is no water
supply which is adequate to fight fire
nothing could be done by those pres
ent.
Fortunately for those living directly
south of the stables. no wind Of any con-
sequence was blowing. there being but a
slight breeze from the north. Otherwise,
1t Is believed, the flames would have de-
stroyed all of the houses south Of the
track. several of which are clustered
within few feet of each other. The
school building which was threatened
lis brick structure, and was not dam
aged.
Passengers on the cars of the Wash
ngton- Virginia Railway Company got
the benefit of the intense heat for a
while as the trains passed the fire.
part of the burning stables being within
a few feet of the railway tracks.
Grandstand Escaped.
The fire did not reach to the grand
stand. which is located a considerable
distance away from the stables. but it
had late this afternoon burned most of
the stables and fencing surrounding them
Old ST. Asaph in it's halcyon days was
Ia mecca for thousands of the sporting
my <hilci b0iiS pdi Jul u puSi-
ness as race track it was used as a
poolroom, and subsequently the law STEP
ped in and put a stop 10 that. Since
that time the old place has been rapidly
decaying, and a portion of it moved away
by people for firewood.
st. Asaph's track came under the bar
of Crandal Mackey, commemorative at
torney for Alexandria county. About
eight years ago. after a long and siren
uous fight, he succeeded in closing the
track and poolroom.
Poolroom Was Raided.
A raid was made on the poolroom
there. Principals were charged with vio-
lations Of the gambling laws and patrons
were held as witnesses.
Backers of the game were brought to
a realization that the commonwealth s
attorney meant business and they gave
up the fight Since that time the build
ings have not been kept in repair, and
recently that section of the county was
doomed as an attractive place for resi-
dences.
1t was thought by residents of the
county not long ago that an effort would
be made to restore racing on the tracks,
decision favorable to the sport having
been made by the state courts at Nor
folk. No effort to put the place in order
was made, however.