The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-19

A PROBABLE INCENDIARY FIRE AT
ANDOvER.
Arrest Of = Suspected Party.

hAAoos VA - seofoseoN sAsys
In that part of Andover known as "East
hill" stands an ancient cdihce, formerly
known as the civilian Warner place. 1"
1t has been owned and occupied recent
ly by one Peter P. Wheeler. Wheeler and
his "better half" who by the by happens
to be his second wife, have been unable TO
see things in the Same light, and as a con-
sequence have not lived together for at
least two years. Petitions for bills of d.
vorce have been prayed for by both par
ties--by the wife for divorce and alimony,
but as yet none have been granted-the
husband, meanwhile, having Withdrawn
his petition from court, and his presence
from the premises altogether. Madame,
however, having a homestead interest in
the place il nothing more, has been in
cllned to hold on to the ''main chance"
and made the dwelling her home the larger
share of the time still, has been absent
portion of the time.
Sunday, the l4th inst, she was on the
premises, made calls on two neighbors,
nothing to the contrary being known, it
was supposed she stad at the house Sun
day night. On Monday morning, quite
early, Abner w. Adams, who resides with
in few rods of the place. discovered
smoke pouring out Of the two chimneys Of
the house and thought 1t very singular, he
also thought the windows looked dark and
smokey. He went to the dwelling and
looking through the windows ss best he
could, somewhat difficult Job on account
of newspapers having been pinned up to
the windows on the inside, be became eat
isfied that the house was on fire in the in
side. Calling to a neighbor who happened
to be in sight, the doors were tried and
found securely fastened. A door was
forced and one of tho square rooms was
well under way. By great perseverance
on the part of Mr.. A. water was thrown
upon the flames with SO good effect that
the building, large two story house, was
saved.
We learn that every door susceptible Of
being fastened was so found that where
the fire originated, to all appearances, was
in cupboard, and this door was found
locked. The fire, however, had burned
through the floor of the cupboard and drop
ped into the cellar. The bottom of tie
door had also burned through and the FIRE
extended across the floor and up door and
window castings on the opposite side OF the
room. 1t is needless to remark, perhaps,
that no one was found on the premises
There is strong flavor of incendiaiism
hanging around the affair, there being
many other suspicious circumstances than
those limited at above; but not wishing to
forestall matters, or be the remotest means
Of starting any unwarraDtable suspicious
sgainst any one. We forbesr to enlarge.
The case will, without doubt, be fully in
vestigated by the proper authorities, when
it is to be hoped the whole affair will be
unraveled, and if there is any one SO evil
disposed as to attempt the crime of incen-
| diarism, we sincerely pray they may
be detected, and legally dealt with.
The exertions of Mr.. Abner w. Adams, in
subduing the flames, are briefly alluded to
in the proper connection, but they are de-
serving of moro extended remark. His
own buildings stand in such close proximity
to the building in question, that had the
house then on fire burned, it is almost
morally certain they too would have
burned this being the case, he
had all the incentive tina. he
could ask for, for his almost auperhuman
e1ertions on this occasion. Being stout
athletic man, it is believed, under the cir
cumstances, the grass grew but triflle un.
der his feet, while he bearded the fire fiend
in his den.
p. S.-Sinee the foregoing was written
we learn that States Attorney William Ii
Walker, of Ludlow, has taken the matter
in hand, and will thoroughly investigate
it; the arrest of Mrs. Wheeler being thu
first step in the programme.