, 1866-05-16
A STARTLING CONSPIRACY.
Diab0licnl Incendiary Scheme at
Madison.

Attempt OF Returned Volunteer to
IEnrn the CITY through Revenge for
Failure Of the Kounty Bill-The City
Fired In Five Places.
IFrom the Madison (w1s.) Journal. M.y Ill
an attempt was made On d grand scsle Sat-
urday evening TO burn mp the Capital city,
which was fired In five places, but owing 10
the early hour at which the attempt was
made, and the bungling manner in which It
was carried out, the activity Of our fire de-
partment. and the vigilance Of the police aud
citizens, it bad but very limited success.
The first fire was set about 0 o'clock, nt
No1den's Hotel barn, on State street, in the
First Ward; hut the alarm was quickly given,
aud ere the fire companies could reach the
spot tho flames were beaten and drowned out.
The engine companies had hardly reached
their headquarters when The la1ues were;ddis-
barn. at the corner Of Washington avenue
and Webster street, having been set on the
| Webster street aide, and probably on the
| second floor. It was sccn almost 1T the In
| slant it was set, but the old wooden build
Ing was like tinaer, and ere any one could
reach tho flames they were beyond control,
and all that could: be dooo was to get ont the
horscs and what property conld be moved
The Fire Depa1tmen. and many cittzens were
on the spot almost Instantly md worked with
the greatcst catucstness. but such was tho
in1ammahle nature Of tho building that It
was impossible to put out the flames, which
shot fur up into the. sky, until TIE American
House barn, Baker & Campbell's HEery stable
and the bowling ss1oon, oscupied BY ". E,
Mason, had been consumed
The Ere back Of the American House was
hardly got under control when Mr.. Anderson,
l Of The firm of Anderson s. Davidson, carpcn-
ters, en- Webster street, in the Third Ward,
near the Engine House Of Engine Company
No. /, who was on the roof or his shop to
prevent It's taking fire. saw the light Of fumes
in the shop below, aud hnrryins down found
q fire klndjea among some sharfngs piled
against his workbench, which in q moment
more would have been beyond control, bnt
which he'managcd to pnt ont. 1t Is barely
possible, but hardly conceivable, on c1amina-
been caused BY sparks from the burning
buildings. Had 1t got under way it wonld
have greatly endangered the whole business
block north OF the Park, It Is very sus-
pieious that pnl Of lamp oil was found sill
ting on the steps Of the old Congregational
Church, nearly opposite, apparently Intended
| put them out,
Atout the same time q fire was discovered
| in the second story OF the Golden Star Hotel,
also in the Third Ward, on Webster street,
back Of the old Ara.ts office. 4 bed In The
reom WIS found to be on fire, but By tearing
! up the carpet and throwing some things out
OF the window, tho Gre was put out without
doing very much damage. Il Is possible this
| fire caught from detective chimney OF other.
wise, but not probable.
A lew moments after tlra WIS discovered
In the door Of Neuman's carpenter shop, on
King street, IN the Third WnIl, opposite the
Sc n making rapid tracks, but this was ex-
l tfDgufshed az soon M started.
These different fires. caused great excite
ment among our citizens, and various we're
the conjectnres as 10 What could have in
| splred the incendiarits, evidently novices in
| my reasonable motive, until 1t transpired
that letter bad teen received here In April,
| placed IN the hands OF the Mayor, and by him
given 10 Chief Of Police. :Larkip, some three
weeks ago. of which the following Is copy:
NEW LONDON, March 81, 1886.
| Governor FaIrchild:
| pEAE SlR: AZ l Qn a ltran2er In the city OF
l. Madison. and rnncqua1u1ed with any person there
W whom cnn address ths note, take tho liberty
Of addret sing you- The subject Is one upon which
do NOT Hike to spcaE. but humanity prompts me
! 10 tell you what know IN the matter, though !!
dare net sjen ny name Or give Ton Or any ore c.se
In the fore part Of This winter msde ihe acnnaia.
asce 0! q msn ~to beionsed to the E,chth rcsi-
ncnt q Niscnn,m Volunteers. who. while Under
jec,td hy hinseH ard tye other persons. mem bers
of The same reruacnt II hnrn the ri,v ~ Ws,;,snn
fwo Of tbe PARTIES bave rlncc W seen and codscrsei
viii asl 1Tisd 10 pessaaoe them to aoaudoa iheir
project, but as tar a could tndgel hid no inlu-
.nec orr ihsn, aaa tnsy feemed determined 10 pr
sS,s1e ~ soeTn a,, m,GStn e., ~ At aae lime
NV lie rboua n3T ior ~ and d. M III Ss
ers.fe In their hasas, lit it,aE tsc:c ca s. no
uaners III addressing fhia uole 10 you
Two Of tic fellow have been ii Madt:ou within
t;o lat non'h for she rnInose Of carrying out helr
p'an ~ nas ior iome @ reaSe he balance Of the party
nv ~ lns ns'AfT a ,ts. ae sstst e. ~ss
of c!an tbat thsy nrs,ena to taxa a:a,n.t IA IA
cty for bounty money lha: they say they are enti
tied 10 receive nom ,he city. ih1. is nater that
inow no1h!nc or; but you viii probably under
a,aad %1at Il mems; m srd ,nere T. any DANGER os
ae s1 !u5 nc ~ sS wom@ IS gaa s2
dsrr pot 20 aoy fsr;bcr. >A~&N. ~ 4'sS">'' 'us
thiak thc time for them to operate is hxed for
some dnlc IN May next.
As we understand It, There were several
msn credited to this city from the eighth reg
lmcus as re-en1isinS yeternus, whose names
DID not reach here till after the quota Was