The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-08-16
GsAIN INCENDIARIEs.
DiaboIicaI Attempts 10, Burn the
Wheat Fields OF California.

A telegram from San Jose, July 81, 70
the San Francisco Chronicle, says During
last winter rumors were rife in this Wei.
nifty that as soon as the new grain crop
should be ready to harvest 1t would be-
burned. AT that time the threats were
regarded as mere sensation, and no atten-
ton was paid to them, particularly as
they could be traced to no individual
source. Recent events, however, bring
them to mind with startling distinctness
and create the impression that there. pos
sibly exists an organization having the
execution OF the threats as its object.
Last week FIRE broke out In a grain
field belonging TO Robert WEIGH, lying
between Milpitas and Berryessa, which
destroyed about $500 worth Of grain. At
the time the FIRE was regarded as an acct
dent. Shortly after, some persons un-
known, covered a clipper standing in a
field in the same neighborhood with
straw, which was fired and the clipper
entirely destroyed. This occurred about
2 o'clock in the morning, and about
two hours later the stubble in the neigh.
borhood OF the, threshing machine
was fired, evidently intended TO burn the
machine. The act, however, was frus-
traled by the hands camped with the ma
chine, who extinguished the fire. This
morning another attempt was made TO
fire tho grain.6elds in that quarter, which
reveals the method employed by the
scoundrels engaged in the work. About
s o'clock this morning some men who
we're working in Robert Welch's field.
near Berryessa, saw fire flash up in q
distant quarter OF the large field and at
once has,ened to the point, succeeding
finally in extinguishing the flames.
Scarcely was this done before another fire
was observed 10 mysteriously spring up
about half mile away, 10 which the men
hastened, and again succeeded in master.
ing the threatened conaagration. Anew
moments afterward, and almost stimuli.
taneously, two fires broke out in distant
quarters Of the field, and apart from each
other several hundred yards. Again the
men, by this time reinforced by number
OF neighboring farmers and field hands,
went to work, the force being di.
vided so M TO attend to both cases
at the same time, and again sue.
cess crowned their efforts, though
for time it looked as II the fire would
get beyond their powers to quell, and
sweep southwark on the breath OF the
strong breeze through the miles Of grain
lying uncut between that point and Gil.
ROY. The occurrence OF four fires In the
same field without any apparent cause
excited much astonishment and alarm,
and believing that II could not be acct.
dent or the result Of scattered phosphorus,
search was made for the cause. Some
distance from the point where the first
fire broke out one Of the searchers dis.
covered piece OF heavy wire about two
feet long, one end Of which was stuck In
the ground and the upper portion in.
serted In piece Of candle, the lower end
OF which was wrapped with q piece OF
paper saturated in kerosene, which was
wound around the wire and the lower
end inserted in q quantity Of straw col.
lected around the base Of the upright
wire. On searching the place where the
fres broke out, corresponding wires were
found sunk in the grounded course,
minus the candle and paper. ~
The apparatus employed indicates that
the candles were lighted in the night, the
time required in burning TO the oiled
paper afording the perpetrator ample
opportunity 10 get q long distance away
before the Ere should break ont. It Is
also believed that the candles we're pre-.
pared OF the same length, 80 rs to cause
the fires to break out In different parts
Of the field at the same time, thereby rem.
dering all efforts to subdue them futile,
and resulting in 4 general conaagration
Of grain In this valley. The discoveries
have created the most intense excitement
in the neighborhood, and hundreds Of
men are now engaged In guarding the
field, though Of course Il is not probable
that any more fires will occur soon In |
that immediate vicinity, as The perpetra-
tors Of course did not wait 10 be assured
Of the success Of their plan before leaving
for other. fields Of usefulness. The farm.
ers are now making subscriptions for the |
purpose OF offering large reward for the |
capture Of any grain incendiaries, and so
great is the Indignation that should that
event occur we shall certainly have 10 |
record lynchihg in this county.