Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-11-26
THE sAs.svsses AGAIN.

lie Drops llis Lighted Match Inte the Hay
Loft OF Smithsonian stable Last
Njght-The Barn aud Three
Horses Consumed.
Before the ruins Of Saturday nights fire
are cold another c%onisgration breaks loose in
our midst. 1t was about half past nine
o'clock last night that flames were d,scov-
cred issuing from the hay loft Of one Of the
barns attached to the Smithsonian hotel
premises and in o few minutes the entire
structure was burning. Those who arrived
first at the scene found the lower doors Of
the barn securely locked, the second story
door through which hay was thrown into
the loft wide open, and q ladder belonging
about the hotel premises leaning against the
side of the barn with its upper end in this
loft door. They found also that the fire had
been started in the end Of the loft farthest
from the door. There was considerable hay
in the barn and it burned 80 rapidly that
only three of the Elk horses on the lower
floor could be rescued. The other three,
one of which belonged to John FURY and
two to William Carpenter, half breeds from
Crow creek, we're burned. The barn in
which the FIRE originated was entirely con-
sumed, together with an old ice house adj
On the east and west sides Of the
burned building, only two or three feet away,
stood two other barns, both of which we're
..-.l .l,.,~b .>,a n 1ol1~ cooeohoI and
partially torn down by the fire company.
On the other sides of the burning barn, a rod
or 80 away were other wooden structures. In
fact there was almost an entire block oflarge |
and small wooden buildings surroundln g
the fire, none o which we're injured ex-
cepting those mentioned above. The night
was calm and firemen and citizens worked |
with & will 10 prevent The spread Of the
flames. A windmill and we'll, close to the
fire furnished an abundance of water. which
was used to excellent advantage. Mr..
Smith, with q small hand force pump,
saved the building neares, the fire. The
losses are IS follows:
H. II. Smith, barn and ice house .......... $i25
.1o,'m r,,rv ono no partially destroyed,.'. 49, .
VIM. Carpenter, two horses ............. $50
Loss on fences, hay, &C 80. ........... -. Is
Total s625
Mr.. Smith had $3.50 insurance on the
barn partially burned, in Partridge s Co.'S,
British America company. This vas the
only insurance on property destroyed.
Two horses belonging to Charles Seaman,
who lost two valuable stations by the Bra3-
ley stable fire, but were i'll the barn which
burned last night, his ereremoved to a place
safety. A horse belonging to John FURY was
also taken out.
Mr.. Smith can form no idea Of the cause
Of this incendiary act. He is at peace with
the world so far as he knows, and has no
idea that the party who fred his barn was
actuated BY . motive ofrevenge against him.
The inference is that last nights fire was
but q part Of a scheme to destroy the barns o
Yankton. This is the third one which
has been fred within about a month. In
each instance still nights have been chosen
for the i~ncendiary work, 20 that adjoining
property las escaped destruction. variou.
theories are aloat regarding the motive for
these acts, but none Of them promise . SO.
luton of the mystery. One thing is GER
tain-that we have in our midst a man, OF q
gang of men, bent upon destroying the prop
erty of persons engaged in boarding, buy.
ing and selling and renting horses. This is
the foundation Of the case, and the first Of.
fort should be to discover the motive for
the crime. 1t may be for per-
sonal gain, and it may be from
pure malice or from a half insane desire to
create an excitement. 1t is difficult to ar.
rive at a conclusion in the matter and pro.
badly none will be reached until some man
is caught in the act and then, if We mistake
not the temper Of our people, a hasty judg-
ment will be pronounced upon the malefac-
tor. There lie reason to expect more incen-
diary fires and property owners should keep
a close watch upon their premises.
Fresh buckwheat -four aud pure maple
evrnn af Ionkincon q. p;Lo,o