The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-09-28

A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.-On Sunday morning,
about half-past IL o'clock, the premises of Mr..
Jesse Burbank, near Churchville, on the road
leading from that place to Bel Air, were entire.
ly destroyed by fire. The inmates of the house,
ten in number, barely escaped with their lives,
In their night attire. The fire Is believed to have
been the act of an incendiary. George LAUDER,
man who had been at work in Mr. Burbank's
canning factory was arrested In Baltimore, on
the charge OF doing the deed. He was brought
to Bel Air Monday evening, by Sheriff Hughes,
and lodged in jail.
LAUDER worked last year in Mr.. Charles A.
McGaW's canning factory, near Hartford Fur
mace, and also for few weeks with Mr.. Bur.
bank. This year he was employed for awhile
at the canning house Of Mr. A. Oakley Mitch
ell, near Perrymans. He applied to Mr.. Bur-
bank for employment, and on Tuesday of last
week the latter engaged him, together with
woman named Mary Ward and her sister
Kate.
LAUDER proved to be quarrelsome fellow
Last Saturday night Mr.. Burbank heard the
noise of row in the shanty occupied by his
canning hands, which is situated q short dis
lance from his dwelling. Going out to see
what was the matter he met LAUDER coming
from the canning house. LAUDER said they had
had quarrel and he had pushed Kate Ward
down. Mr.. Burbank told him he must behave
himself or leave. LAUDER went out into the
road and disappeared. The woman Mary Ward,
followed him. 1t transpred that he had
knocked Kate Ward down and had undertaken
to domiHeer over the foreman, Jack Earring.
ton, and all hands.
About half-past eleven the people in the
shanty were awakened by knock at the door
and Mary Ward applied for admission. She was
allowed to come in but did not go to bed. Lau-
Der, she said, was going to sleep in the woods.
Between twelve and one o'clock, Mr.. Bur-
banks teamster, MIR. Burton, discovered the
fire and called Mr.. Burbank The dwelling
house and stable were under one roof and ad-
joining this building was an old canning house.
Mr.. Burbank, upon being awakened from a
sound sleep, was at first dazed and it was
minute or more before he became fully con.
clous. Seeing pile of straw on fire in the
passage between the dwelling aud stable, he
undertook to eKtinguish the flames, but was
driven back by the fierce heat. Rushing back
into his sleeping room, on the first floor, to get
some clothing and some money he had in
drawer, the flames burst in upon him, scorching
the top of his head and burning of his eve.
brows. His hands and one Of his feet were
also severely burned. A little boy, his adopted
son, slept with him, and Mr.. Burbank just
managed to escape from the room, with the
little boy, leaving their day clothing behind.
Four horses and one cow persisted, and Mr.,
Burbank lost, besides, all of his farming imple.
ments, 200 bushels of oats, household and
kitchen furniture, a lot of silver, clothing, hay
and straw, harness, about 81 900 labels and IL
barrels Of cement. None of the fruit he packed
this year was destroyed. His entire loss will
amount to about 81, 900, on which there is g. 200
insurance.
Richard Burton. his wife and their two little
girls, Miss Mary Waterman, James Hedge and
little boy named James Taylor slept in the
second story. Mr.. Burton, after discovering
the fire and going down to call Mr.. burbank,
was driven back by the flames, when he en-.
deavored to return to save his family.
Miss Waterman and James Hedge lowered
themselves from window and in dropping to
the ground were bruised and injured. Mrs.
Burton dropped her children out of window.
her husband catching them as they fell, and
escaped herself in the same way. Young Taylor
likewise escaped by the window.
No one in the house saved anything except
the scanty clothing they had on.
Mrs. Mclaughlin, who slept in the kitchen,
did not know how she got out.
An examination took place, Thursday morn.
ing, before Justice Richardson. LAUDER was
represented by Mr.. ]. L. Webster. Mary Ward