The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-01-14
EBENsBURG, PA, THURSDAY, JANUARY Il, 1869.
THE INCENDIARY.


their sleep at the dead hours of night by
the cry of Ere, can form the least concep-
ton of the intense fear that peryades the
whole system. The strongest nerves sue
cumb for the moment, and the first law of
nature, self preservation, finds action in
some singular and oftimcs unwise manner.
To fire building while the occupants are
asleep, is the worst crime, save murder,
known to our laws. Oaly the most hard
ened criminal will ever attempt SO heinous
crime, and seldom if ever is it committed
save from motives of revenge.
In the experience of many years but
few convictions have taken place for arson.
The history of one now serving out life
sentence in prison, furnishes abundant
proof of the depths TO which we can fall
when passion Is allowed to take possession
of our hearts with evil purposes
The winter of '61 lad set in, and the
intense cold had driven many to the com>
forts of their homes, and the streets for the
time were nearly deserted. The clock in
the steep!e of the old church in the central
square of the city, had struck the hour of
one, and no sound, save the wind, broke
the stiffness of the night Crouched in
ore OF the narrow alley ways that abound
in our cities, might have been seen form,
wrapped in a thick grey garment, his face
and head closely muffled by wooden
shawl and sheltered from the cold pierre
ing wind by the projecting doorway of the
dwelling adjoining
Cautiously had he several times stepped
out from his hiding place, and with eager
eyes surveyed the premises and muttered
to himself the bitter curses that filed his
heart towards the occupants Of the house.
''SieeP on in peace, you have robbed me
of all that possessed in life. This shall
be thy last sleep on earth. For years have
l followed in your track, and ever have /
been cheated by your cunning" Stepping
out from his hiding place he moves with
cautious tread, and again surveys the pre-
misses. Not sound can be heard that in
dicates the presence of the living He
approaches the window, noiselesslv-he
opens and enters. All is quiet Taking
a match from his pocket he lights it, and
| with cat like tread he enters the adioin~
ing room. 'Now will be revenged,'' he
mutters, and selecting the most combusti-
bic articles at hand he piles them together
| and fires them. Assured Of their burning,
he quickly leaves the premises. Away
| from the scene of danger he awaits the
alarm surely it comes The quick sharp
! sound of the watchman's rattle, and the
cry of fire resounds upon the air. Soon
| the bells give out the alarm, and the loud
ringing cry of the iremen gives evidence
OF their fs,ithfuiness to duty. Brighter and
more glaring grows the light as the flames
ascend and spread with fury that seem
| beyond control. His revenge had been
almost complete. The blackened walls
was all that remained Of the building -
Awakened by the suffocating smoke that
| filled the chamber where the occupants
slept, they were enabled to escape barely
with their lives. All they possessed was
| lost. A reward was offered by the city
authorities for the detection and convic-
tion of the incendlary, and sharp detectives
were set at work to ferret out the crimi&
nal Months passed away, and no clue
! to The party was obtained A new home
was procul ed by the sufferers and the cir
cumstance was seldom or ever mentioned
Scarcely had a year passed before the
same avenging hand was present. but with
much less success. Caught in the act
with the implements of the incendiary in
his hands, after desperate struggle he
was captured and safely lodged in Jail.
His boast of what he had done and his
threats Of further mischief. should an oc-
casion offer, was sufficient proof of his
guilt. / was determined to ascertain the
cause of such bitter felony, when favor>
able opportunity occurred. Days and
weeks passed 10y, and his conduct had
changed to such degree as to warrant me
in asking him for an explanation. found
him ready to communicate, and from him
| learned the following story:
81 was born in the State of New Jer4
sey, and at an early age was deprived Of
my parents by death. was placed under
the charge of one who il was thought
would confer proper care over my youth,
and afford me sufficient education. The
! property left by my father was placed in
his hands and was ample to keep me from
want. But | was cheated out of my
money, abused and neglected, and when
able to work was put out to service, un-
educated, and as it seemed to me an out
cast on the world. To my repeated ap-
peals for assistance, l was rudely assailed,
and threatened with prosecution if did
not desist Maddened by his taunts l
struck him, and was imprisoned. On
leaving the prison vowed vengeance
against him, and have on many occasions
endeavored to fulfil my VOW. In the
winter of '61 1 fired his dwelling and es-
capped without detection. have followed
him many times to kill him, but have been
frustrated by some unforeseen circumstan-
ces at each attempt, and now again have
/ been defeated in nay purpose. pre-
sumo must suffer for my crime. From
neglect and wrong done me l am what
you see. / care not for myself, could
have been revenged. Prison has no terror
for me, as my whole life has been a suc-
cession of failures and disappointments,
l hope that the wrongs that he has infiict-