Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-30
HARMONY UNDER GUARD.
detectives Hard at Work Trying to I'm.
raVel the Mystery-Two Men Arrested
ana snder Guard-The People Com.
pletely Fris shtened.
HARMONY. Sent. %.

O-%At oSPt. -p'
lhe Harmony scare has extended to the
towns In Its vicinity. Nothing like it has
oeen experienced before. Whose turn next? ?
is uppermost in everybodys mind, not only
In Harmony, but in Athens, in Hartland, in
81. Albans and other villages in this region.
where the people jump out of their beds at
every rustic in the night and sleep with rife.
standing by their bedsides.
There is a general fear that the Williams who
nave been running Harmony will set fire to
some OF the neighboring towns. As for this
unhappy town, the respondent men, the dis
lracted women, the crying children, the
scenes OF desolation and wretchednes all
about give the place most doleful aspect.
On Monday the alarm had become so
general that the postmaster did not dare to
have the mail come or leave in the night, a.
it formerly had done, coming from Skowhe-
gan, for fear it would be robbed. The feel
ing had spread that the town was infested not
only with fire bugs, but with highwaymen and
assassns. Tuesday night an armed guard
escorted the mail.
| The appearance of the town is what might
be expected OF place besieged by an army.
Guards are stationed at all the cross roads,
and it is impossible to enter the town with
out being detained and your business in
quired into. The farmers have lights so
arranged as to cast glare on their barns.
Woe 20 any man seen going into one of their
barns in the night.
Last Sunday one of the sentnels saw an
occasional flash on the bank of the stream
A few minutes waiting proved it was made
by man with a dark lantern. The guard
hailed him. He paused as if undecided, then
turned and ran. The guard fired two shots
after him, but it is not known whether they
took effect or who the man was.
Monday night Mr.. Herbert Pingree saw a
man trying to enter his barn. He fred at
him several times, but the man made his
escape
| The citizens are as uncertain as ever as to
the identity of the wretches who have caused
their misfortunes. Two men have been put
under surveillance, and one of them has been
arrested and is closely watched by keepers.
The first man detained was George Hanscom,
rowing sort of a fellow who has picked up
a living by doing odd jobs for the farmers.
There is no evidence against him and he was
merely requested to stay in one place till the
mystery was cleared up, and he complied.
The man who was arrested and is now held
is tall, red faced, rough looking customer,
and gave the name of John Young, and said
he came from Ripley, but lives in Farming
ton and is river driver. His looks are all
there is against him.
1t is quite clear that all the fires have not
been started by one person. 1t is believed
that the incendiaries have desired to avoid
loss of life for the reason that all the fires
have been started in the day time 1t is a
singular fact in nearly all cases the north
west corner of the barn has been selected as
the starting point of the fire.
The last hint gwen the detectives is fur
nished by a gentlemen who says he heard a
culprit, sentenced for some stealing opera
tion here, threaten to make it hot for Har-
mony" as soon as he should be released.
1t will take many years to repair the loss
to the town. The destroyed buildings form
only part of it. Potatoes have been left to
rot in the ground stock has peen left out in
the rain, business of all kinds has been sus
pended, the town government has been put
to considerable expense and its prosperity
greatly impeded.
SKowHEGAN, Sept %.
Albert Hurd of Harmony, a young man
whose brother was sent to the reform school
some four years ago. for burning buildings
on the town farm of Harmony, was arrested
on suspicion, and was having a preliminary
examination at Harmony village this after
noon. Several representatives of fire insur-
snce companies that had risks on the build
ings burned, go to Harmony from Skowhe-
gan tomorrow forenoon, proposing to make
thorough investigation. Detectives and the
local officers are working vigorously to find
the culprits or eau Sc of the fires. No indi-
cation of incendiarism reported since Sun
day.