Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-01-05

ALARMING ACrs OF INCENDIARIsM.-
On last Saturday the people OF the low
or part of the county were thrown into
the greatest excitement and alarm by
series of fires which occurred the pre-
,ious night after IL o'clock, in "Sam-
rle's Manor" one of the poorest sections
of the county, which lies west of Elk
Ridge Mountains and Maryland Heights,
and extends to the Potomac on the west.
From what we have been able to learn,
there can be no doubt of the fact that
the fres were the work of incendiaries.
The States Attorney is engaged in in
vestigating the matter, but so far we do
not believe any developments have been
made although persons have been sus-
pected.
There appear to have been at least
iwo persons engaged in the affair and 1t
seems to have been done in the boldest
manner. We can learn ofno motlvefor
the act, TO spite to crafty nor nothing
10 be gained. The properties destroyed
lie on the road leading from the Jonh
Brown School House, where Mr. hoo-
.rt Claggett now teaches, at the west
ern foot of Elk Ridge Mountain to Har-
per's Ferry, ,ho
The party of iucendiaries first fired the
wash.hous and spring house OF CharleS
F. Wenner, lying about quarter OF I"
mile south of the sehoolhouse. MI
Wenuer's property is rented to and &C.
cup,ed by Mr.. Benjamin, and the two
bindings burnt were very near the sta
BILE. 1t was Supposed to have been their
object to destroy the stable, but the lat
ter building was so near the house that
they were probably afraid to approach
it. This fire broke out about II 81 A.
A.. on Saturday. The family OF Mr..
BENJAMIN were aroused, but not in time
10 save anything in the two buildings.
The stable however was saved 10y their
efforts.
Passing on down the road about hall
nmile, the next house on the same side
of the road is that OF MIS-. Mary hous'
or. the widow of Samuel Houser. Hel
LARGE swisser barn which stood near the
road was fired and entirely consumed
The barn was new and fine buiioing.
AT Mr. Adam Ats, situated little
off the road, few hundred yards belo"
AIRS. Nancy Johnson, two stacks OF Tod
der, belonging to Terence Byrne, and
lot of fencing, were burned
The next house down the road is Mr.
Terence Byrnes. Some old buildings
formerly used as negro quarters, were
bprnt, containing large number OF
shingles and meat. The shingles were
DESTROYED, but the meat was saved. BE
tween the quarters and Mr. Byrne
dwelling house, and about five feet from
the latter and adjoining the former. /:
an old kitchen. The root of this wa:
burnt off. Mr. Byrne was sleeping III {
front room next to the road, About II
so o'clock he observed two lanterns com
inc across the field towards the house
lie paid.no attention to them, but went
10 slcen In about half an hour he was
awaked ~ member Of the family, who
discovered iipmce coming from the quar-
;ers. This awakening enabled him &c
save his house, whicA would und0Ubt
sdv have been destroyed otherwise
Tie meat from the quarlere was saved
with the greatest difficulty. Mr. B!rne,
loss is considerable. aud includes his hen
house and lot OF chickens.
The barn or the farm OF Mr.. Char!,
Wilson. occupied by Daniel Reed as
tenant. was burned to the ground. HE
jrcend;gries had turned out the horses
and cattle, but large lot OF harness
terd and Other articles were consumed
Mr.. John c. Unaeid, who lives about
hall a mite from the road upon whlct
the other fires occurred, at the foot o
MARYLAND Heights, lost a barn, IN
Guiding all his farming utensils, wlnte'
feed. &c.-Hagsrstown Muii, Dec %.
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