Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-12
AN IyCENDIARY'S TORCH.


Major Hamlct's Dwelling in Great
ipangcr-ts. 4. Matthews Building
Somewhat Damaged Seen
Skulking bout the Burned Struc-
turc in Very Suspicious Manner.
An inceudiary fire last night destroyed
one OF the lretties; frame dwelling houses
In course Of erection in the southern part
Of the city. rhe burned structure was
the properly or Frank keibach, and
faced the east on Barnard street, directly
in the rear OF the res dence
OF Mai j. K. Hamlet Shortly
after .30 O'Clock tongue of flame snot
into the air from the ground floor IN tde
rear part ~ tue structure.
SOUNDING THE ALARM.
Sheriff Roman and several other per
sons in the neigh Oorhood discovered II
simultaneously. and an alarm call
inc on the fire department.
was qulcklv turned in from signal station
No. 81 The building was as dry as
finder and N a very few minutes the
flames bad euyeloped every part OF u and
were threatening surrounding structures
The neal was intense and a slight breeze
from the south famed the fire into
furious roar and filled the air with flying
sparks
ENTIRELY DESTROYED.
When the department arrived it was
ZOO late to save the structure ard its de-
struction was complete. The frame work,
mastering and most of the exterior and
interior decoration of the building were
completed As it stood II represented
an outlay of $500. Mr..
Keilbach, who was building it by the day
and personally experimenting the work,
expected to expend $1,000 more in finish
ing it. tie bad placed $l,500insuraDce on
il ia companies represented by Messrs.
Wheaton 4 son.
AN ISCENDGARY's TORCH.
The building was carefully closed at 6
O'Clock last night and access to
the yard could be gained only
by scaling nigh fence. AS no fire was
left about the building last nights blaze
was aImost undoubtedly the work OF an
incendIary. A family living IN one of the
neighbOring residences report having seen
a man skulking about the rear part Of
the building a few minutes before the
flames burst forth. Several negroes were
congregated on the sidewalk in front OF
the structure about the same time. AS
no night Waterman was left in charge Of
the premises the man seen in the yard
clearly had no right to be there. Two
negro carpenters employed on the build
ing lost their tools in the fire.
MAJOR HAMLET's HOUSE ENDANGERED.
After the fire had first gained Roadway
the destruction OF adjoining residences
seemed imminent. A wooden addition
in the rear Of Mai. J. r. Hamlets resi-
dence was on the point of bursting into
flames when the fire department ar
rived and turned a stream OF water on it.
Mai. Hamlets stable also had a narrow
escape, and was ablaZe once or twice.
Mai. Hamlet carries no insurance on his
property, but suffers only slight loss.
His residence is one OF the handsOmest in
the city.
ANOTHER DWELLING DAMAGED.
On the second lot to the north of that on
which the keilbach structure stood a
twO.story frame residence is being erected
for G. &. Mathews, an employe Of the Cen
trail railroad. When the tire department
arrived the understanding was on the
point OF bursting IRto flames.
The frame work was damaged to the
extent of 5000. The loss is covered by in
surance. The dwelling when completed
will represent an Investment of a trihe
over 1000. NJ. A. O'Connell is the con-
tractor.
The fire illumined the whole sky and
attracted several hundred people TO the
Scene