The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-02
A FIRE BUG CONFESSING.
THE STORY or IN UNWORTHY SCION
or THE HONEST HOLL1NDERS

Nearly seven years ago the citizens Of
Kingston. Ulster County. y. Y. wcro alarmed
10y frequent inccndiary fires in and about their
town. Dwellings were spared. but barns. sheds
aud shops were SO frequently destroyed that a
feeling Of insecurity aud dread pcrvuded the
community. Notwithstanding the vigilance OF
property owners the fires continued and the in
cendiarics cudcd detection for about three
years. Then suspicion WIS directed toward "A
young man named Charles II. Van Gaasbeck. n
member Of one Of the largest. oldest and most
honorcd families in that part Of the country.
The Van G0asbccks have lived and nourishcd
IN Ulster County for 300 years. and point to
genealogical trees and family documents that
trace their ancestry far into the antiquity OF
Holland. Thov cannot remember that over be-
fore Van Gaasbcck was guilty OF so hcnious
an offence MS arson. and seriously incline to the
beliefe that tho trace Of evil blood that has thus
been shown came into the family through ono
OF the children Of Anncke Jams. who married
Van Gaasbcck many years ago.
Charles was wild youth. not inclined 10 fol-
low tho trade OF his father, that 81 carpenter.
but liking better to lounge about the town with
Idle companions, drinking whiskcy AMI haunt
INK the house OF n hose company. II was OBJ
served that lie was always one Of tho first
present at II fire. Some words or threats used
by him were noted against him. At length.
when HOffman's barn was burned. in 1875 he
was caught under such circumstances that he
plead guilty. md was sentenced TO two years in
State prison. The sentence was mado light for
him. in consideration Of its being his first Of
fence. Of his youth. the responsibility OF his
family. and his professcd pcnitencc. The sumo
considerations were used to obtain pardon
for him. SO that he served but seventeen months
aud one week OF tho prescribed time in Sing
Sing. While ho was in prison Kingston en-
Joyed season OF calm. and confidence in the
security OF property was restored. but within a
very short time after his release incendiary fires
again broke out Insurance companies took the
alarm. Some refused any longer 10 take risks
on Kingston property Others raised their
rates to the degrees Of hazardous " and "ex-
ira hazardous"
Young Van Gaasbeck worked moro steadily
now at his fathers trade than no had done be-
fore his State prison experience. but crcum-
stances were noted which were. at least. singu-
lar condolences. The revival OF the era Of
coniiagratons almost exactly correspondent
with his return TO the town. He was rs before
among the first at every fire. however remote
the quarter where IT started. Property threat
ened 10y him mysteriously blazed soon there
after; and behind all this was his bad record
He was watched long after suspicion was lxod
upon him. but although there were many per-
sons on the alert to win the $500 reward offered
by the City Council for the arrest and convic.
ton OF an inceHdinry. he was not caught until
utter incendiary fires had destroyed. in the
eighteen mouths since be regained his liberty
over 5000 900 worth Of Kingston property. In
one lire alone. in the starting OF which he was
by his own confession. AZ least an accomplish
three large stores and barn. OF the full value
OF t5OOUO were destroyed, In another n costly
church belonging to the Presbyterian denomi-
nation was burned.
-, a O.
Halenoeck,s carpenter shop on Dec. 7. 1873
lie pleaded not guilty. and sought to escape by
wholesale denials on the witness stand and by
proving an Hllbl. nut IN vain. The eliminating
evidence .was strong. the alibi weak and his
word OF little value; On Tuesday last he was
convicted. Almost Immediately after which he
began making confess ions. In nearly every
instance he sought to throw upon some one
else the blame for the actual perpetration of the
crimes revealed, obtaining Tor himself the
reputation OF being untrustworthy. Thus. a.
though he directly charged upon two young
men named Iraphagen and lngraham the
starting OF several incendiary fires it has not
been thought worth while TO arrest them upon
Charles II. Van Gaasbeck is not yet "a years
OF age. If OF medium height and build. has
expression OF his face is not an unpleasant one.
except that he has lurking way OF looking
down or away over the shoulder Of a person 10
whom he Is speak ing. He has no hesitation In
telling his story the substance Of which If:
Ira Traphagen and started the North Front
street fire last sumner Zone in which were
destroyed a clothing store, furniture store Ell
press Office. and barnl He GOT a herring box
and a sperm candle from Van Aken & Kiersted's
store. aud We liked tho candle in the box with
some shavngs in It, so that the candle would
burn down and set both box and shavings on
nre. We did not use them the night We nIcd
them, but the next night. Then. a little after ~
O'Clock on sunday night We went down to North
Front street. carrying the box with us.
watched while Irapnagen put tho box under
the stairs III Stillwells barn. lighted the candle.
and cainc out. Then Traphagen pasted some
tissue paper on the back window OF Wakelee's
cabinet shop 10 deaden the noise when he broke
the glass. broke II. put in his hand. and unjust
eurd the catch So that he could rails the win
dow and climb in. Inside he piled some shay
ings in corner Of tho shop. poured oil on
them. and lighted them. Then wo ran home
and whom tho alarm was given we ran out again
10 the fire. Atthe fire in the clothing store got
apair Of suspenders and Traphagen got n pair
tie. rraphagen also fired Van Gaasbeck barn
on Prospect street. lust opposite my house.
llghted "A cotton handkcrchict and put IL under
aS"pner OF me barn and set II going
corner OF Clinton avenue and Maiden lane.
Traphagen went across the street and passed
In between the church and Mr.. Happens barn
through a small lane that runs between them.
He went into the Iappen barn through n small
corner OF the barn he found barrel OF shavings
and a heap Of coal He took some Of the shay.
ings out of the barrel and put them in tho east
both places nj the east and northeast corners.
He came out o! the barn and walked over 10 mo
tutouEn tuH same hHtyWdy lndl no went IN
by. We both then ran over into the Acadr-
my yard and hid behind the steps Of that build
ing. When we heard the alarm We ran 10 the
hre, and found few persons there. among
whom was George Washington tcoloredl. Wo
stood there by the fire. and whep the church
caught Traphagen said: did not mean 10
have tho d. old church GO We then ran
over into tho church 10 help take down the
chandeliers. When the bell fell Traphagen
said; There, that's gone 10 h Wa fired
tho barn becausr We were down on Case Bur
hans. and Mrs. Happen was a cousin Of Case
Burhuns.
'Joo Curran started the fire. in Hi Dnvs's
cooper shop. and | WINS with him at the time.
W. were both pretty full Of beer at tho time
That was the only fire knew Of Joe CurrHn's
starting, though he and Traphagen ana tried
10 set iire 20 kerr's hyer- stable about year
ngo and tailed. lie is IN Port Jeryis now. Last
juno we tried TO fire Lilles barn. that Is Trap
hagen and dld, hut Just rs we started II We
SAW some one coming and had Ia run. So that
the fire hadn't got much head when Mr. Luther
came in 10 nut ~ his horse. found the fire. and
put u out TraphHEen and | fired MhitHker's
barn. lie took a bunch Of hath that lay under
the shed and threw them on some straw and
lighted it. Then he ran of and | went home
until the alarm WAS given, That fire We started
because Mhltakers son had poisoned Trapha-
gems dog.
Traphagen set the nrc in Van Akcn's barn
WIS with him when he lid H. lie Just ripped
on board and st fire 10 the straw INSIDE. and
then we both ran down town and gave the alarm.
W. tried Ia Lurn t'ul.D NJ Nnrrttt'. .tor,. 10