New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-12
The Danger from Incendia ris nj =,
IPrnm tha ST. LoIHs Dianatchl


Those of our readers who thOroughl9
study the course OF events, will not have
failed to observe the surprising frequency
with which great and ruinOus conhagra-
tons have occurred during the past two
wears. The gross amount of actual capital
which has been thus swept away from com
merce is so colossal that the mind can
hardly form an idea of it's magnitude.
Trade has scarcely recovered from one
severe shock before another has fallen -
paralyxe its growing strength.
The people have heretofore supposed that
these great disasters were the result OF
sheer accident, as in Chicago, or of an uno
fOreseen combination of unhappy cirCums
stances, as in Boston; and that nothing
could be done to prevent them save to
strengthen the various fire departments, and
increase the efficacy of the same. But about
q month ago we were informed that the in
surance board at Chicago had discovered
and thwarted several serious and concerted
attempts to start another eOnhagratiOn in
that city; and this discovery has been cue
ceeded by several serious fire disasters isS
various parts of the country, ending with
the fire in Nashville on the second instant
where the clear loss amounted to abous
100000.
Enough evidence is before our reopleoS
genius and activity in incendisrisn hith-
erto unknown, to put them thorouc hly on
their guard, and to suggest the propriety
of still greater vigilance in detecting and
Furnishing those who may be engaged in
any such attempts. The progress of the
age, and the increase of skill displayed in
every department. of business appear 10
have been accompanied by a corresponding
increase of skill on the part of those human
vultures, who maintain dishonorable and
yicarious existence by the practice of the,
darkest crimes. ARy one can understand
that an organized effort to inaugurate q
great fre-with due regard to the weather
the season, the condition of the water supply
and the fire department, aided by b free use
petroleum,and guided by a sort of fendish
genius which generally distinguishes those
who engage in such wOrk-would be exceed
ingly difficult to thwart. 1t may be to this
very fact that are owing the wonderful "a
pidity with which the great cOnhagrations
have spread themselves over the business
portions OF the cities visited by them, and
the immense amount of plumber which, &C
cOrding to all accounts, was secured by
thieves who infested the threatened dis
tricts, in the guise of disipterested citizens
eager to help in transporting valuable
goods, at moderate rates, to places of safety
in the suburbs.
Our city has been for many years spared
any such terrible visitation as that which
lately fell ON several of our sister cities;
but. If the inCendiaries have some organ
lied plan of destruction in process of execu-
ton, our time may not yet have arrived. In
view of the facts which have come to light
our citizens, and particularly the police,
should be keenly on the alert TO detect and
bring to justice any of these human fiends
who may attempt to re-enact in our midst
the terrible scenes of Chicago, Portland and
Boston. The present season of ice and
snow and high winds is especially favorable
to attempts of this nature, but We hope that
with the experience OF the past and the
warning We have given, our citizens MAJ
be able TO defeat the plans of any of these
scoundrels who may be now among us