The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-03-16

! Last week We mentioned the fact Of Il lire at
Peru and that the NJ. +, parsonage had taken
fire seven times in one day. The origin af these
fires is wrapped in profound mystery and has
been the sensation OF the town since then. The
barn was burned on Friday morning. the tire be-
in" evidently the work of an nccudiary. In the
evening fire was Discovered in the roof of the
summer Kitchen hut it was soon cNtnguishcd,
and parties began the work OF investigating.
The HpuH continues the story in thi, wise:
Near the wall of the kitchen stood packing
frame to Il sewing machine and in this rested an
eight or ten gallon kerosene can. The fire had
burned around the frame and run up to the roof.
No fire had been in this kitchen, it being used as
Il lumber place for washtubS, etc None Of the
family claim to have been there since the door
was fastened by Mr.. Ducrnger rs he was leaving
that evening. Both of these fires had every APP
pcarancc of inccndarism, and friends were asked
10 watch with them during the night. But the
most mysterious part is yet To come. As these
friends were talking in the room below, about
two hours later, the smell of fire attracted their
attention, and hunt for it took place In the
library on the upper floor is Il bookcase spare
bed, etc, the room being used as study. On
the bookcase We're stacked pile of unbound
books, and the fire was discovered burning on
the top book, and with the exception of this was
the only indication of fire in the room. The
book was burned through about twelve leaves
and also upon its edge nearest the wall It is
singular that no one is supposed to have been i'm
the room but those watching for fire. \ few
hours latter, the smell of fire again alarmed them
This time it was in the Sitting-room occupied by
Mrs. Ducringcr. On Il bureau stood Il work. box
made in the form of Il chair, and upholstered with
green wooden material, the seat forming the lid.
Smoke was discovered coming from ii, and the
shredS and cotton were found on fire By this
time the wife and children were greatly frightcn-
ed and it was with difficulty that they could be
persuaded to 30 to bed. An hour later as Mrs.
Ducringer was lying upon the bed she discover
ed Il light through the stovepipe-hole that led to
the room above, and calling to the men they
found the bed in the library on fire Water was
now set in buckets in every room, the rooms
thoroughly searched and trunks nvcsgated 1t
was impossible for anyone to reach the upper
rooms by the stairway without being seen by
watchers, rs the stairway opened into Il room.
The burnt bed was then brought down to the
kitchen: the Chdrcn's bed made up on the floor
in an adjoining room, and thus passed the balance
of the night without any further alarm. In the
morning the burnt bed was taken up stairs and
laid upon bare floor and it was believed that
the trouble was over About o'clock this bed
was found on fire and thcl floor also The bed
used by the children below was also in flames,
and the fire bells again rang out the alarm The
excitement seemed to take possession of every
one. The wife and children were nearly frantic.
The crowd wrcnchcd hcdstcads apart and dam.
aged considerable property. On the arrival of
the fire department affairs came under the super
vision of the chief of the department, Metzgar,
who gave orders to preserve the goods and move
them carefully to the adjoining church
1t is needless to say that the loss to Mrs. Ducr-
niger is considerable. The origin of the fires is
still mystery and it is useless to speculate upon
it, All sorts of rumors are atoat all of them
gucSswOrk. There is no insurance on furniture
or building; nothing wherein to mpcach Il chris
tan gcntlcman's character. The family refuse
to return to the parsonage under any considers
ton AS they believe that there is some one deter
mined to get rid of them, although no enemy is
known to exist.
Mr.. Ducrmger has concluded to leave the citvl
and will make his home al Garfield H., preach
ing ut this church once in two weeks.