The New York herald., 1879-03-06
Triple Attempt to Burn the Ocean
Hotel at Long Branch.
MYSTERIOUS FIREBUGS.
Good Citizens Resolved to Rid New
Jersey Of the Rascals.
A REIGN OF TERROR.

'Firebugs at Long Branch" has become q very IA
nilar announcement. In fact, there has been so
much incendiarsm during the past two or three win
ters in the famous watering place that whenever
fire occurs, not otherwise explained the residents
simply look at one another in comprehensive man
per and say "Firebugs! That used to settle it; but
now the town commissioners going behind the
returns and will endeavor to find out who has been
trying to burn down the Ocean Hotel. Only year
ago the ''bugs received lesson at the hands
of Mr.. John Hoey Their depredations at that time
had been extensive and seriously threatened the
safety of the entire town. Fires were kindled by
fendish hands, not only in the largo hotels but also
In private barns and cottages. Finally through the
personal efforts Of Mr.. .Hoey. and through
the assistance OF New York detectives.
confession wrung from one of
the culprts. and after trial at Freehold two men
were sent to the Trenton Prison for terms of ten
and twelve years. During the trials it was estab-
lished beyond doubt that the work had been done
by an organized band. Although the two convc-
tions acted like air brake the train of incen-
darsm it has been the constant fear of the inhab-
itans that the destructive force might again be
started.
THE OCEAN HOTEL FIRES.
Hence the excitement of Long Branch people when
Just before midnight on Saturday last the church
bells called them to fire in the Ocean Hotel. Every
body rnn to the fire, and there not idle hand
at the scene All the able bodied citizens belong to
the volunteer fire department. which deserves the
credit of saving the hotel. They have two engines.
o chemical aud steam one. The latter. being at
the eastern end of the town. soon at the confa
grafton, and. with good supply of water from plug
in front of the hotel the flames exiting uished.
That fire under any headway in . large frame
building like the Ocean Hotel should be overcome
by the aid Of single steam engine is regarded
hOfh sinp he wudb beip
Tight something in favor of the plucky citizens
and then, too, the opportunities of discovering the
fire were good. This second advantage lay in very
simple custom lately adopted by the of the
large hotels in leaving them with closed shutters
closed up tightly as possible On Saturday night
the fire seen from some distance by one Of the
life saving patrol who ploddng along the beach
He saw the light through the open windows and
one the first to reach the hotel and give the alarm
went home. and when everybody got up late Sunday
morning everybody said. "Firebugs! There was
o%p the hotel that she fire ro@
Adjective due, and there the matter rested until
Monday.
About ten o'clock Monday nor ming the workmen
on the new Long Branch pier. directly in front of
the Ocean Hotel saw smoke issuing from the attic
window. at the south end of the building. Another
ALARM another rush of the townspeople, more steam
the ground floor at point where the southern row
of cottages joins the main building Only q light
partition separated IL from what has been the
living apartments of those staying in the hotel and
where Mr.. Charles Leland has lived most of
the winter. There evidences Of incen-
diarys work. but the average Long Branch mind is
not in q condition to require evidence. Charles
Leland absent when the first fire broke out; but
returned before it was extinguished. The second
fire was about fifty feet further south, and in the
attic of one of the cottage row. This part OF the
hotel occupied by the female in the sum-
mer months. At this second fire the Long Branch
people found incendiary evidence whether they
lis
discovery the owners (Messrs. Warren Leland
sr.. and Warren Leland. Jr. had arrived on an early
train that morning) became naturally excited ard
asked those in charge of the fire engine to drench the
hotel until there no further possibility of blaze
lhing but for Gods sake don't let them burn the
hotel The entire premises carefully searched.
and in the ladies' Closets on the second floor of the
rear extension, found another. and more
unmstakable iucendiary attempt This fire had been
The charred partition had been wet with kerosene.
and the floor was still moist with the fluid. At what
time that attempt occurred il impossible to de-
termne. 1t may have been . joint effort with the
Saturday night fire
MEETING AND A REWARD.
Nobody said "Firebugs!" Tuesday, but every
body thought so. They couldn't afford to utter
stale q trusm. The town commissioners held q
special meeting that night and by the advice of
Prosecutor of the Pleas Laning their deliberations
were with closed doors. Mr.. Hoeys successful
Oficial ambition. and it resolved to ferret out
the woud-be destroyers of the Ocean Hotel. cost
what it might-excepting and providing it didn't
cost too much. The commissioners somewhat
restricted in their efforts for the public veal by the
strange prejudice against taxation that exists
to offer reward of s4OO for the apprehen-
sion and conviction Of the criminal or
criminals and Long Branch is to-day patched up with
yellow notices to that effect The Commissioners
also appointed committee of three, consisting of
Mayor o. H. Cooper and a., Hessrs. rs, X. u. Woodward
rounding the fires to the finest point This commit
tee began its work yesterday Every thing it does
60 be provokiney private and at least two suns will
1ise and set on their deliberations.
WHAT is THE MOTIVE?
Outside OF the official inquiry every citizen of Long
Branch has resolved himself into investigating
committee OF one. He takes the evidence of the first
man he meets, and then adourns-until he meets an
other His sessions also strictly private The
reporter was met on Tuesday night with this dis
wary was sSe Word 'Nfn Il WAS
necessary first for him to demonstrate to a citizen
that he was not ''hrebug"-a difficult accomplish
ment In itself-and second, to convince said citizen
that he knew all that transporting. giving said
citizen an opportunity to confess that he didn't.
The official mystery was in some instances almost
appalling. The reporter could see but way out
OF it-as he couldn't trump he had to follow suit.
Eo he resolved himself into committee and entered
~ once into executive session. The plan worked
like charm. The other committees bcsiegcd him
tor information, but he wouldn't tell them thing
INTERVIEW WITH OWNERS.
On going to the Ocean Hotel he found guards at
every corner. who followed him. in what was sup
posed to be stealthy manner. to the one lighted
room the south wing. The three Messrs. Leland
were within. and began by explaining that they had
taken the precaution of Increasing the number of
their watchmen. They went over the circumstances
OF the fires. and explained sucn clews ~ they had
received. Detective Heidelbcrg of this city, had
been there working ON the The Mcssrs. Leland
said that they had been in Long Branch great deal
during the winter on matters connected with
the building OF the new ocean pier in which
they are much interested. Mr.. Charles Leland had
lived in the hotel most of the winter. Besides them
selves there had been three colored men and one
white woman employed around the place. The
woman did the housework. one OF the a
cook and the other two watchmen. All wero
old and faithful employees, and though not sus-
pccted they were to be submitted TO searching in.
4uiry Their loss by the two fires they put at about
$4OOO, and an insurance agent, who had been making
appraisals, present during the interview.
cLEws WITHOUT nEsULTs.
They were at a loss to account for the motive Of
the incendary attempt. IL did not look like the
work OF organized band, aud they did not KIN ow
fhat they had any enemies in about Long Branch.
1t was evident that the guilty parties quite