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1 1 1 1 1 1 • 1 * j DESTRUCTION AT MONTREAL FIRE WRECKS THE BLUE BONNETS GRAND. STAND ON THE EVE OF ITS MEETING. Temporary Structure Being Rushed to Completion-Good Prospects for the Meeting Despite the Loss — The Kings Plate the Feature. Montreal. Que.. September 1. — Fire visited Ihe plant of the Montreal Jockey Club early this morning on the very eve of Ihe opening of its fall meet ing. and completely destroyed the handsome grandstand. The dames were discovered at three oclock this moraine; and the Montreal lire department was Immediately notified. A bucket brigade was formed among the stable hands and it was mainly through their efforts that the niutuel building and clubhouse were saved. A couple of holes in the roof near the grandstand was the only damage Ihat the niutuel building Suffered. The origin of the tire is a mvs- tery. the genera! impression being that it. was the work 01 an incendiary. Been tan William Northev lost no time in getting busy and before noon contracts were let for a temporary structure to take the place of the burned grandstand. The contractors promised to have the new stand ready in twentr-feat hours. Three hiinilnd carpenters wen at work this afternoon hurrying the work along. Blue Bonnets is c nsidercd ihe finest racing plant in Canada. A new aad larger grandstand will take the place of the ..hi structure and will he in readiness for the spring meeting next year. The meeting which beings tomorrow promise-: to be a most successful one. Moatrealers take much pride in tile lacing at Blue Bon.iets and. because of this mornings eon flag rati, in, they will turn out in greater force than ever before to make the meeting a huge success. Ihe urogram for the opening day is a splendid .•ne. It has as features the Kings Plate, a dash of a mile and a quarter for Canadian breds, and a seven-eighths handicap. In the latter race. Ten point is |..p weight at 124 pounds. There are s.Veu entries for the Kings Plata, tw . of which. Cert Volant and Salves -Moi. are coupled as Ihe property of the Charlevoix Stable. The former will be ridden by I. Coldstcin. The gglds in all d the seven races are well balanced and stirring sport should he in order. Several stables arrived from Saratoga yeaterdavj . among them those of W. T. Anderson. A. L. Aste. Gwyn Tompkins, B. F. Carman, Thomas Clyde anil W. F. Iresgrave. There are more horses here than ever before and stable room is at a premium. It. 1". Carman has obtaiaed lirst call on the services of Jockey Ihil Goldstein for flu- meeting. frank J. Bryan and William P. Biggs were ar-i rivals from Saratoga and Baltimore. Both will offi iate as stewards of the meeting.
