The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-07-19
From the philadelphia Inquirer July sth.l
CASE OF ARSON IN PRILADELPHIA-EX
CITING SCENES


About arson there is something so fascinating
from its very dasardliness, that, despite the terri
Bile penalties of the law, ard the vigilance of thu
Fire Marshal, the crime is still practised More
than this, in all probability it always will be. A
fragrant case occurred yesterday morning. cas-,
evincing demoniaca cruelty on the part of the per
petrator, and by which an entire family made {
narrow escape with their lives. That they tcer,
saved was because they risked their lives by Jump
ing from third story window. About two o. clock
yesterday morning policeman Keen of the sixth
district, whose position at the of Seven
teenth and Market streets, heard the cry of "Mur
der!" "Fire !" The voices were those of females
and in their direction the officer literally flew
From the windows of the grocery store of VIM
Auld, No. LIZA, Market street, was issuing up
shooting tongues of fame, which also cut off re-
treat from the staircase, while females at the win
dow, in all the helplessness of mortal fear, were
wildly shreking for aid.
The structure is owned by George Prader, and
was occupied by VIM. Auld as grocery store and
dwelling. The store was on the first foor and i'm
mediately in the rear a room used for storing
goods. This room was first on fire. which was the
cause of the alarm. The family of Mr. Auld are
absent from the city. Himself and sister-in-law,
Miss Matilda Mcneil, were alone in that part Of
the house. The third story rooms had been rented
to Mrs. Ann Mcguire who resided there with her
John, a youth, and her niece, a Young lady
named Mary Ann Dillon.
The flames burst through door of the store.
room, leading to the private staircase, and made
tirely the retreat of all the inmates.
Though possessing some considerable degree o.
solidity, the result of long familiarity with scenes
of suffering privation and peril, we were painfully
impressed with the sight that now met our vision
Enveloped in smoke, the flames roaring and crack
ling all about them, were these females mploring
for help at the hands of the awe-stricken crowd al
their feet. The flames surged up the stairway, thu
house was full of smoke, and nothing but the
promptest measures could have saved the impri
soned females. Miss McNeill, a young female board
ing in the house, seeing the tardness of the crowd
ran recklessy through the fire, down the stairway
into the second story, and then climbed from the
windows to the top of the bulk window beneath
her, and from which she was rescued by two young
men named Thomas Cunningham and Rober
McDevitt The act of these young men was loudly
appauded by the crowd. The girl had escaped IL
her night dress, which was burned from her per
SON, but fortunately she received no serious iniu
ries. For Mrs. Mcguire to leap upon, bed was
now brought to the sidewalk beneath the window
The leap was ventured upon. AS the fire had al
ready consumed portion of the staircase, death
by that voracious element was the only alterna.
tive. Mrs. Mcguire, her niece and son were sue
cessivey saved in this way, and without bodily in
jury Miss Dillon, in her descent was less fortu.
nate. She struck the bulkhead and was badly
bruised about the head and shoulders.
As to the man Auld, he was all this time safe in
the back yard. He states that when he was aroused
by the smoke he ran down stairs; that when he got
there he thought of some money and papers in his
bed room and returned for them; that while in hi:
apartment on this errand the stairway took fire
and he escaped from the building by the back
window.
Fire Marshal Blackburn, Immediately com
menced an investigation of the origin of the FIRE
Everything in the store indicated deliberate de
sign to burn the goods, and that ample prepara
tons had been made to accomplish the act. Train
of combustibles had been laid in all directions
among empty barrels and boxes, and in order t.
create draft. that the flames might spread rap
idly, window upon the side overlooking the yard
had been left open. There were two counters il
the store. Upon one of these was bflrrel file
and spread into the barrel, was qua ntity of corr
husks Wood and husks were also pread alon!
the counter, interspersed with greasy paper. Up
on the counter, on the west side of tae store abou
boxes, but some of the latter had the lids off,
lot of corn husks, cut into stripes, were dstribu
ted about the floor upon the west de of the store
The ends were burned of, and hs ID evidently bee