Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-29
HARMONY. Sent %

Acf1 oCpt. 20.
Inc people OF Harmony are in pitiable
condition. They do not know what to do,
and dare not leave their own buildings on.
tirely alone even to help their neighbors
whose buildings are burning. Nearly every
family Is making preparations to save their
goods in case of FIRE, no one knowing where
the next blow may strike. Barns are being
cleared of farming tools, bedding is being
tied up, trunks packed, and everything is
being done to facilitate aquick removal. At
Representative Marbles a good two horse
load of trunks, his safe and other furniture
were seen on the piazza
Twelve sets of buildings have been burned
IN Harmony this summer, eight of that num-
Der last week, all incendiary. Monday, Sept
20th, fire was discovered in one of the barns
belonging to Ira Hurd, and in a short time
the entire set of buildings, with the exception
of a stable, was destroyed. His loss was
about $1,000, insured for $1,000
Tuesday the buildings of Abel Frost were
fred and destroyed. Mr. Frost saw a man
run from the barn and disappear in the bushes
near by at the time he discovered the fire.
The buildings of Robert Trip and Charles
Laughton were fired the same day, but the
fire was seen in season to be got under con.
troll and the buildings were saved.
Wednesday the barn of John Foss was fired
Thursday passed without fire, but Friday
the buildings of Nicholas Smith were burned.
Ernest Willis buildings, except one barn,
we're also burned Friday.
Saturday, while meeting called to devise
means of protection was in progress, the barn
of Alvin Booker was said to be in flames.
Almost at the same time the buildings of John
Dore were fired, and also Charles Laughton's
buildings were fred second time. The two
last sets of buildings were entirely DESTROYED.
Sunday Eben Nutter's barn was burned.
close watch is being kept day and night.
Armed men are stationed on all bridges and
at all road crossings at night, while women
and children may be seen stationed around
the buildings by day.
Many theories are advanced as to who the
perpetrators of these awful deeds are and
what their objects may be, but as yet there is
no clue. Some think there are several per-
sons connected with the matter, while others
think there is but one, and that he uses slow
matches or something of that sort and places
them by night. SO far all buildings have
been burned in the day time.
SKowHEGAN, Sept 80.
No fires reported in Harmony since the
small barn Sunday. close guard is kept
all over the town and seems to have an effect to
prevent more burning. State Detective True
and j. F. Holman OF Athens, are at work
investigating, but no clue is reported as yet.
Theories are numerous and unsatisfactory
Very few persons now believe that any were
fred to get the insurance. One theory is
that the buildings of Hurd and Frost were
burned by little girl residing at Hurd's.
They are halt a mile apart and the girl went
to Frosts house after Hurds was burned.
Most of those who have Investigated the
matter concur in the theory that some slow
match or fuse arrangement had been used,
in a part of the buildings at least. heavy
rain prevails today. An insane tramp, call
ing himself Frank Coleman, came from
Athens yesterday and was arrested here. The
examination today does not indicate that he
could have had anything to do with the fires
in Harmony.