Bat Club Fire Damage Will Be Repaired Soon

The Bat Club will be completely restored as soon as possible, James M. O'Brien '59, club president, announced yesterday. Flames swept through the interior of the clubhouse Sunday night before being brought under control by the Cambridge Fire Department.

"It is just one of those unfortunate things," O'Brien stated. Most of the members were attending a punch and did not arrive upon the scene until the fire had been extinguished.

Smoke damage was heavy on both floors, O'Brien said. The Bat Club occupies the two floors above the Gold Coast Valeteria, which escaped the fire. Flames, however, were restricted to the second floor of the building, and O'Brien expects that the third floor will be in use again in a couple of days.

The television lounge where the fire started was completely destroyed, and the bar adjoining received considerable damage from spreading flames. Repairs on these rooms will take quite a while, O'Brien stated, and no one knows yet when the club will be able to use them again.

Insurance will fully cover the cost of restoring the building and its furnishings, O'Brien noted. However, the total extent of damages will not be known for several weeks when the insurance company completes its inspection. Firemen at the scene estimated the figure would run into several thousand dollars.

No change in the future plans of the club or in the present punching season, which is now drawing to a close, will result from the blaze, according to O'Brien. "We will continue as usual," he commented.