New Britain herald., 1924-06-18
Former Yale Skating Rink And Exhibition Auditorium Used For Auto Storage And
 l25 Cars Are Junked.
Was Second Bad Blaze of Night, Business Block in Congress Avenue Being Damaged to Extent of S50,0O0.

Ao L<AtAht ol 7. $50,000.
 rsa New Haven, June ls.--A property
 loss placed at S500,0 in the aggre- gate, conservatively estimated was caused by an early morning fire which destroyed the arena, in State street used last winter by the Yale Hockey Association for its games and for ice skating. Since spring the au- ditorium had been used for exhibition i -,nd sale of used automobiles and last night I25 cars of all makes were in the place. Apparently all now are be- yond salvage except as junk from the ruins of the structure, Fire Chief Martin ]. Fleming after ! examination of the premises said this 1 loon that the origin of the fire was not determined, His own estimate Of | the loss was at less than sS5o,000 I witch he based on the value of the structure either destroyed in full or in part.
 Manufacturing concerns in the main building had full complement of machinery and their loss is counted into the aggregate of a half a million dollars.
 The arena for years was used for ice skating purposes. It's surface area was more than in any any other building here. 1t had been used 10 some extent for boxing exhibitions.
 Insurance agents who held policies on used cars stored in the arena say that the insurance on them was about S1Oo,0O0.
 The D X l shirt Company claims a loss of SlO0,0o0 and Charles Oppe, treasurer of the c. X Q. Manufactur- ing Company. makers of radiators, said his concern had s100,OoO loss
 So far as known not a person was
 att at the ire, which was considered
 niarkabIr by many because of the extent Of the area burned over and the fact that i60 firemen and 100 officers were at work in and out in the place. Scores of Yale men, who had not retired because of class re- unions. turned out as spectators and some lent a hand in saving portable effects in buildings which at one time were in danger.
 Was second Big Ise
 The fire. the second large blaze of the night in this city, was a spectac- uar one. Three alarms called all the fire apparatus of the city to aid in fighting the flames. and firemen and apparatus from Whiineyville were called to aid the local fire department. taxed to the utmost in combating the two fires. The first blaze did s5o.ooO damage to a business block on Con- gross avenue.
 Heaviest Losses
 Firms suffering the greatest loss in he Arena fire were the c. S c. Manu- featuring company the D S [. Shirt and the Commodore Shirt company The used car exchange, in which large number of local auto- dealers are interested, suffered ! loss of about 125 cars which were stored in the Arena auditorium, one 1f the largest in the state
 Frequent explosions followed dis ,oycry of the blaze. caused it Is be- ieycd by the explosion of gasoline anks in the automobiles stored in the place. The roof of the building fell Ioon after the fire 'tarted and huge .mbers were shot high into inc air, while tiremcn were driven back hy h danger Of the walls failing. Nearby in Grove street took fire but 10 serious damages resulted.
 The fact that the Northampton di- ision tracks of the New Haven road, ituated in a cut separated the Arena rom the old New Haven High school 'uiiding now the Orange street irammar school. undoubtedly saved hat structure. The fire was still mold"ring al daylight. though under oufrel. Nu estimate pf the damage as available
 Half a dozen small manufscturir1 onetrEs in inc Hooker building auf- rred losses by fire on the upper floor nd by water on the ground floor. es1dence cn Grove street which took re from burning embers. was praa- caiiy sutted. tbe fire marshal said. Bridgeport. Conn, June Is.-Harrv '. Walker. Bridgeport owner of inc rena property in New Haven. se. royed by fire early today. and es,t- lates the damage al s4oh. sne. parttv 1'cred hy insurance Mr, watEer as called tU New Haven shortly ansr le Ire broke ont. He leased n. rena for the use Of the Yale upiYsr. ty Bowling club for 10 years.
 ASKING INJUNCTION.
 New York. June Is.-Tha Iro,