Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-09
MYSTERIOUS. FIRES.
The Experiences OF Hancock Coun.
ty Family.


have visited the home Of w. f. Miller
and which have been noted In the Ad
Uertiser, Bairdstown friend sends u
the following, which we are sure ou
readers will persue with interest:
The first Of the series of unaccount
ables fires that have gradually de
stroyed the household effects of w. F
Miller and family occurred in Angus
last, one and one-half miles south O
McComb, in large frame house on tn,
Morgan Shaffer farm. In the morninI
before breakfast Mr.. and Mrs. Mile
were engaged in driving some stock int
the barn-yard and when they en-
tered the house they heard somethinS
fall up stairs and noticed q smoky odol
In the air. Fastening up stairs Mr.
Miller discovered sack containing
rags In flames on the floor, it having
burned so as to fall from the hook on
which 1t had been hanging against the
wall. He succeeded in carrying IL out
OF the house, wondering how it could
become ignited when there had been NO
fire near the spot. In the course of a
couple of hours another fire broke out
IN the adjoining room up stairs, this
time burning the paper covers from
some stone jars containing lard, apple
butter, etc. The heat was so intense
that one or two of the jars cracked open
and the lard ran over the floor but did
not ignite. This fire was easily extin-
guished with water.
The family was more than ever puz-
zled to know how the fire originated,
The fact that the second fire started by
burning the paper covers from the jars
destroyed, the theory that the first had
originated from spontaneous combus-
ton, and yet 1t was Spontaneous, the
flame following puff Of smoke as SUBJ
sequent developments demonstrated.
In the afternoon the family were specu-
lating as to the almost supernatural
character Of the fires when one member
remarked, II wonder what will be the
next thing to burn" The words had
scarcely been uttered when a puff of
smoke and flame shot out from beneath
the lid of chest which was used to
store clothing, etc. Water was quickly
thrown upon the fire but it was not ex-
tinguished before the contents were
materially damaged. The next day the
clothing Of a bed caught fire and was
thrown out Of the house and consumed.
Within three days after the first fire
seven fires in all destroyed clothing,
bedding, carpet, etc., but did not in the
least damage the furniture or the build
Ing, except to smoke the walls and CELL
ings, besides the glass in the windows
being mostly broken by the excessive
heat. At the end of several days Mr..
Miller concluded that he was fighting
an unequal battle with the mysterious
element, and after his insurance had
been adjusted he vacated the premises,
but not before thousands of curious
visitors had thronged to the scene at
tracted by the mystery with which the
occurrence was surrounded.
Mr.. Miller removed his remaining
effects to the home of his father, Daniel
Miller, who resides one mile southeast
Of Bairdstown, occupying part of the
paternal abode. In the meantime Mrs.
Miller had washed and cleansed every-
Thing possible, and for several months
passed off quietly, and in
The ordinary routine of country life the
matter of the fires was almost forgot
Ten.
About five weeks ago, however, an
other fire originated in the same man
1er and in the same chest as at Nc
Comb, in August. As before the fire
vas quickly quenched by the aid of wa
er, but the clothing was considerably
burned before it could be removed.
This ended the fires for the time be-
ng and in week or two afterward the
amily removed again, this time into
he Lenhart farm tenant house, two
niles southeast of town, where about
he first of December another fire
tarted in the morning about O'Clock,
n the clothing on bed in which lit
lie six year old son had been sleeping.
The bedding was carried out and al
owed to burn. The carpet in the room
vas ripped loose, dragged out and the
orch applied. By this time none of
heir old clothing remained except one
uit for each member of the family and
me extra dress belonging to Mrs. Mil
er and an overcoat to Mr.. Miller.
On Friday, the dress and clothing of
Mrs. Miller caught fire and was con-
iderably burned before her husband,
Who was working near the house, could
each her. Her body and limbs were
everely but not seriously burned. This
vas the first fire to occur in which any
member of the family was injured. In
he afternoon of the same day an over
oat hanging against the wall caught
Ire and was partially burned before it
vas discovered and the fire put out.
The family consists of Mr.. and Mrs.
filler and two children, boy, six years
Id and babe, eight months old. BY
many who are unacquainted with the
acts, the source of the fires is attribu-
ed to carelessness, but incorrectly, as :
he family use every precaution to pre-
'ent the loss of their property by the
destructive element.
AS yet no scientific investigation as
o the cause of the fires has been made
nd from the simple and direct state
nents made by both Mr.. and Mrs. Mil
er, it is impossible to state whether
hey are the result of the clothing being
with some chemical sub
tance, or are occasioned by the antipa-
by of some restless hoodoo SPIRIT
Tiffin advertiser.
Another incipient Miller family
'hoodoo" fire was discovered early this
in time to prevent any dam
Ige. This time it occurred in a barrel
,frefuse in an out house into which
Mrs. Miller had thrown a discarded
Ipron. The calico or print cloth was
saturated with moisture
rom the recent rains, as the barrel
to be placed directly beneath
! leak in the roof of the building.