The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-04-02
ATTEMPTED ARsax.
lREenieus Chinese Advancement for
firiAE the Eagle House.

fiFiAE the Eagle House.
The attempt to set ere to the old
Eagle house, corner of Seventeenth
and Thomes streets, on Thursday ven
ing, was well conceived, and came
nearly proving successful. The facts
are as follows: Sue Lee is a "washee-
washee' on Seventeenth street, next
door to the Simmons house, and has
been doing less business than he
thought should fall to him. He con-
sidered Fong Kee, who runs a suecess
full laundry on the opposite side of the
street, adjoining the Eagle house, a
powerful competitor. There has been
some jealousy between the two for some
time, but they never quarrelled.
On Thursday evening Sue Lee called
on Fong Kee and expressed surprise
and jealousy at the large amount of
washing which Fong Kee had on hand.
He went out very much displeased. A
short time afterwards, Fong Kee saw
Sue Lee cross the street and go around
the corner of the Eagle house,
carrying a small bundle of paper under
his arm. Fong Kee naturally felt his
curiosity arise, and, going into his
own back yard, espied Sue Lee enter
the Eagle house by a rear door, still
carrying the bundle of paper. 1t then
flashed upon Fong Kee that Sue Lee
was up to some wrong, SO he sailed out
after a policeman. He met Mr.. Il.
Dyer and told him the facts, and
Marshal Carr appearing, he was also
informed, and the two went around to
investigate. But the bird had flown.
Still, an investigation vas made.
Several rooms were entered, and no
sign of devilment was e But in an
inner room, they found the apparatus
that had been employed to set fire to
the place. 1t consisted of a newspaper
wrapped into a ball and thoroughly sat
urated with kerosene. Stuck into II
were three splints. all burning slowly.
Close examination revealed the fact
that they were Chinese slow matches.
In the center of the ball a half block of
American matches were found, and the
Chinese slow matches ran through,
close to the birthstone, so that when
the fire got to that point it would set
the matches afire, when the paper would
catch. This ball was laid under an
old spring bed which was also saturat-
ed with oil; oil was likewise poured
about the floor and walls.
In five minutes from the time the
fuses we're discovered the house would
have caught on fire, and, as the wood is
dry, and hay and straw was abundant
on all the floors, a confiagration
would have ensued.
Sue Lee was promptly arrested and
jagged. He will be given a hearing this
afternoon at 2 O'Clock, on a charge of
attempted arson, before Judge Bean.
1t is said that Sue Lees purpose was
to burn out his rival, Fong Kee, by
burning down the Eagle house. AS the
case stands, he is confronted with a
very serious charge. The maximum
punishment for the :offense is fixed at
two years. imprisonment IN the peni-
Tertiary, and $1,000 fine.
Yesterday Marshal Carr inspected
the Eagle building and found many
windows broken and doors open. Hay
and straw lay scattered about thickly
in every room. This was removed by
the marshal, who will nail up the doors
and windows, as neither the owner or
agent is in town. The house being
open and hay being plentiful, it would
make a splendid resort for tramps; and
they could easily set fire to the same by
dropping a match IN the hay. This is
now remedied, and property in this vi
cinity is rendered secure.