Bars do their best to push back crowds By Laurel J. Sweet Sunday, October 24, 2004The tragedy of Victoria Snelgrove's death in the rioting that followed Wednesday's Red Sox win loomed over Fenway Park, where last night's game began with a moment of silence and police asked bar owners to limit crowds.
A yellow rose left to mark the spot opposite the Green Monster on Lansdowne Street where Snelgrove fell had been trampled, disturbing some fans.
``It'd be nice if people were a little bit more respectful,'' said Joe Callahan, of Burlington, Vt., who drove four hours with his brother Mike just to stand outside of Fenway Park.
The brothers brought with them a photograph of their grandfather, a lifelong Red Sox fan who died last year at age 88.
``People should feel good about what the team's done,'' said Mike Callahan, who was at sea with the Navy when the Sox last appeared in the World Series 18 years ago.
``But in the back of their minds, they should remember what happened here the other night,'' he said.
For the Cask'n'Flagon to Down Under, barkeeps futilely tried to dissuade fans from standing their ground for seats inside that were not going to become available.
Boston Police spokesman Lt. Kevin Foley said tavern owners were asked to try to keep lines to no more than 20 or 30 people.
``It's a difficult situation,'' said Cask'n'Flagon owner Bruce van Fleet. Of the crowds gathering outside, he said, ``We told people we're at capacity. People are already here to see the game, and they are not going to leave.''
David Lear of Dover, N.H., was bringing up the rear of the line at Boston Beer Works that stretched 50 feet down Brookline Avenue, and he wasn't going anywhere. Of Thursday morning's tragedy, spurred by drunken, rioting youth, Lear said, ``I think things happen, but I don't think that was typical of what goes on here, and I don't think it will happen again.''
