Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-07-15
BARNS BURNED.
Last Nights Fire--Arrest OF the
Altered Inceudiary.

A<4e8N ~ - - 49,
Alleged Ineendiary.
About twalvs o'clock last night a. q
RkoisrrR rspostsf IVES coming from the
postofiics hs heard q CRY oi hrs, and at
the same time observed bright light
fash up FROM behind the residehcs oil y.
N. Prathsr, ESQ, No. 1873 Market
street. The reporter soon made his way
back through the yard TO the rear OF the
house, aud there found lire breathing
aercely through the root Of MI. Path.
er's stable. In the meantime the CRY OF
fire had been taken up In the central
portion Of thu city by persons observing
the bright light, and the central station,
corner Of Twelfth aud Main streets sent
out the alarm, ~, Opera House. During
this time the doors of the stable had
pried open. aud two valuable horses, q
COW, buggy aud some sets OF harness
we're removed. The animals seemed 10
be Wild, aud much difficulty Was exper'
fenced In getting them out Of the way.
Tn, fire MAS la the hay loft, aud Was
burning at q fearful rate, with nothing
whatever To check u.
Something Was decidedly wrong with
tho lire department last night, aud y
see,ned ~ though the engines would
never arrive. While waiting Tor the
hose carts To put In an appearance,
Mr.. Tom Campbell, With ono az
two volunteer assistants, Rot
2.inch hose from the warehouse
Of John Reed, Sr., aud after making an
attachment to a hydrant, got On the
rool oi shed Just across the alley irou,
tho burning building and did
the most efficient work done during he
lire; in ia 4 the lire wan almost under
control before the department got any
water ON nj all. Then came the usual
bursting Of hose. but fortunately Tor the
surrounding property the lire MAS at
most out. A. 10 the origin at tho iire,
Il was undoubtedly tho work OF u fire'
hug, m that was plainly Indicated by the
location at tho lire aud the time oi
night Il occurred. The police were there
in full force aud all bent their
energies towarls finding the
scoundr,l who had done the
deed. Mr.. Prather aud his family are
nj ocean Grove, aud the house aud
stshle had been lett In charge oi Mr'
Frank swift. Mr.. T. had la his employ
a colornd by named John Rrookens,
whose business II Was to take care ol The
stables and horses Last Monday, ow-
inn Ia the fact that he was not property
d,scharviny his duties. Mr.. swift di,-
charged him. Suspicion Was imnie'
Jlat,lv fixed ON brook u I'm he w,s oh
served o. lie one III the tIst On the scene
and Not his trunk out Of the stable, where
he inrnerly slept Watchman Ferry
Tracy had also observed him IN the
alley shortly before tho lire. II was de-
termiued Ia arrest him on sus'
piciou aud soon olilccr l'eiibnupl,
caught him la the crowd aud turned
him over To Lieut.. MuCully aud PATROL
man Percy Tracy, who lodged him IN
tho Central police station, where a rep,
rrsentativo III this paper interviewed
him aud learned the following;
iIrookrns said he came from ltits
buryh about three months agp, aud was
cmployed by prathrr until last Mon.
day, when Swift discharged him, anl
took the stable keys from him. les,er'
,lay he had hecn working Tor hill Tar
ienor, al Egcrters. AMI BIll had told him
II he ,lid not want Ia sleep At his hoiso
he rould sleep IN Eyartus stable, TIL.
he decided tn do. Last evening hc AMI
Punk" Jennings aud Uco. buchanan,
two colurcd hoys, were running around,
aud shortly before the fire they hal
seated themselves IN front oi bdlIor y
restaurant, when ho decided Ia po tn
he'd, aud started down the alley, hut ~
Punk hal said he was going tn MI up
longer, hs turned back aud went tn
ialsrr's again, and found the boys,
WhIo IN the alley some man raHs'
him. A lirookens came ont oi tho
alley he met patroln,an Ferry.
Hob Baker also SAWS the boys were ~
l,nnt oi the restaurant when tho cry
was given.
tn. hoy told his story IN straight.
forward manner, and u was tho opinion
III somo who heard him, that although
ho did not himself got tho building On
Ire, ho could tell who did
In connection with incondiarism the
following was learned: About one
o'clock Tucslay morning u woman, name
could not he learned, Who lives over
Ala, German Hank awoke and, hearing
voices, got up aud raw IN Mrs, MIller'S
ward, M. i5l0 Market street, two men
aud overheard ono al them say, ut viii
take about two hours ~ DO the job.
The damage will not, II IL thought.
exceed 800. ID was not learned IA Ia
whether there was any Insurance.
u was we'll u was aualm night, ar 9th
erwisc the large warehouses Ia the rear
must surely have been consumed before
assistance conld have been rendered.