The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-30
THE TECHE CONFLAGRiTIONs.
Particulars as Cleaned from Those w;sH
Were There,

The late eonflagrations in the parishes of
Iberia and st.Mary have attracted considerable
attention, and our community is not little
exercised over the deplorable results. What
was the cause of this extensive fire (the sew
eral buildings consumed being within radius
of ten miles, 1t is impossible to say, but that
1t was the work OF an incendiary Is beyond
doubt.
By private letter received here yesterday
we learn that of the sugar-houses fired in the
parishes Of st. Mary and Iberia, one was to.
tally destroyed and three partially burned.
Suspicion rests upon a certain individual,
after whom the police authorities are on the
alert. This person is said to be a stranger in
the neighborhood, and according to all ac-
counts was never seen thereabouts before.
The colored people were never more quiet
and peaceful and have not as yet exhibited
the slightest symptoms of mischief or misbe-
haviour. From what was gathered yester-
day afternoon by DEMOCRAT reporter, the
following is the result of the incendiary's
work:
DR.. Busseys sugal-house fired, but no dam
age sustained.
Mr.. Gravenburg's sugar-house slightly
damaged.
Mr.. Fayes sugar-house destroyed.
Mr.. Emile Sillan's sugar-house slightly
damaged.
Interviews held by DEMOCRAT reporter.
yesterday afternoon, with several insurance
agents whose interests lie in the parishes
above named did not reveal any further facts
relative to the contlagrations. Fortunately
three Of the fires were .extinguished before
they did much damage; but one sugar-house
was totally destroyed.
Capt. Alex. Moses, the we'll known insurance
adjuster, arrived in the city last evening by
the o'clock Morgan railroad train from the
Teche. Upon learning OF the arrival of Capt
Moses, q DEMOCRAT reporter Immediately
started out in quest of that gentleman, and
after q lengthy tramp our reporter managed
to gain an interview with him at the club of
which he Is member, on Canal street.
The following are the
PARTICULARS OF THE FIRES
as related by Capt. Moses, who was an eye
witness to the affairs.
STATEMENT OF CAPT. MOSES.
/ was q passenger on board the steamer
Mary Lewis. and the boat was behind time at
Cypremort landing, when 1t was discovered
that q large fire was raging above. Upon
making u landing we aScertained that the
sugar-house of Mr.. Faye was in flames and
that the building had been entirely consumed,
the. only thing remaining being the purgery,
which was saved by the help of the crew Of
the Mary Lewis.
Mr.. Faye's sugar-house was an old one, and
there was no insurance thereon. The loss is
estimated at about from $4,000 to $15, 900.
At IL o'clock the same night Mr. Emile Sill
lau came riding up and halted the boat, very
much excited, lMr Emile Silau's sugar
house is situated near Morgan City, and in
formed us that his place had been set on fire
by Q gang Of incendaries, who were all col
ored men. Mr.. Sillau discovering the con-
flagration in time, did not suffer much dam
age, having put the fire out with the help of
a few neighbors.
On proceeding up the bayou further, we
were hailed from shore by an unknown
man, who stated that the sugar-house of Mr..
Gravenburg had been fired, and that the loss
could not be less than $4,000. Had it not
been for the timely assistance of the crew of
our boat the entire place would have been
consumed.
Proceeding up the bayou still further we
noticed that flames were issuing from the
sugar-house of Mr.. Bussey, situated just be-
yond Morgan City. Upon landing we inn
mediately repaired to Mr.. .Bussey's sugar
house. and broke open the place.
Upon entering. the house we began to in
vestigate the place, and found one of the
sugar juice boxes filled with pine wood sat
urated with coal oil, and on fire. Putting
out the fire, and informing the inmates of
the incendiary attempt, we proceeded on our
trip, stopping at every sugar-house we met
and informing the planters of the facts just
related above, warming them to beware Of
work In that portion Of the country
Capt. Moses stated further that the loss
could not be estimated at a very large amount,
because the flames we're extinguished in time
to save the machinery.
Men have been put orswatch, and an idea
prevails among the planters that they will
bring the guilty parties to justice.