MATINEE STABLES AT FAIR GROUNDS DESTROYED BY FIRE.

Firemen From City Rush to Grounds, But Too Late to Save Property.

HAD 100 BOX STALLS

Many Well Known Syracusans Kept Fast Horses There--The Damage Is Estimated at About $7,000, Partly Insured.

The matinee stables west of the clubhouse at the State fair grounds were almost entirely burned down this afternoon. The fire started between 12 and 1 o'clock and in a short time the long row of stables where many Syracuse horsemen keep their fast horses, were almost beyond saving. Word was sent to the city and firemen made a fast run for the grounds and did what they could to save the buildings. They directed their attention to saving other nearby buildings. All but one section of the matinee stables were burned.

Syracuse Herald, Syracuse, NY 13 Oct 1912

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STATE BEGINS SUIT AGAINST CENTRAL

Blames Road for Loss of Fair Ground Stables

$16,000 IS DEMANDED

Insurance Companies Also Plaintiffs in Action---Charge Spark From Locomotive Set Fire to Stables Destroyed in 1912.

Sixteen thousand dollars damages for the destruction of the matinee stables at the State fair grounds three years ago is asked in a suit brought on behalf of the State and thirty-eight insurance companies against the New York Central Railroad company. Trial is sought next month in Supreme court.

The railroad is held liable because it is charged that a spark from an engine pulling a train toward Rochester shortly after 2 o'clock on the afternoon of October 12th, 1912, blew into the fair grounds and set the stables on fire. There is a distance of 100 feet from the tracks to the stables, so that a good sized spark may easily have remained alive when it alighted on the stables, it is claimed.

The railroad company is criticized for the lack of a spark arrester on the engine. Its failure to provide this equipment endangered buildings all along the route, it is claimed. This is held to be the direct cause of the fire. At one time there was some speculation about the cause. Employes[sic] who were on the grounds said they saw a spark fly from a passing train, but there was some difference as to whether the New York Central or the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western was to blame.

Fire Spread Rapidly.

An extended investigation has established the blame to the satisfaction of the insurance companies and the State. The fire spread rapidly because the stables were wooden sheds. There were two rows, one of which was burned to the ground. It contained 100 stalls and was used by the amateur drivers of this city to keep their favorite horses. It was west of the club house, near the turn in the homestretch on the mile track.

Fire companies from this city and Solvay responded to the call from the grounds, but were too late to save the first row. They did keep the flames from spreading to the second row, however.

White, Cheney, Shinaman & O'Neill appear for all the claimants, among them Charles Johnson, insurance commissioner of Pennsylvania, represented by Thomas Donaldson special deputy, in charge of one of the insurance companies. Hiscock, Doheny, Williams & Cowle appear in defense.

Syracuse Herald, Syracuse, NY 22 Mar 1915
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!