The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1890-01-23
Almost a Disaster.

ATTEMPTED ARSON IL So. NorHipGEwoCk
The village Of South Norri1sewock has
been considerably excited Of late at a
dastardly attempt t. lire the largest bust
ness block ia tina, place, evidently to Sc
cure insurance on a small stock of goods.
The place of the attempt il the Hale
block, with -four stores in the lower part,
dentists office and the families of T.
:. Longley and r. $ Miller occupying
the upper door. c. II knowltOu, boots
and shoes, was In the cast end Of the
building, +. W. Spaulting. drugs. next,
o. f. Hall, jewelcr. third. aud Ella II
Wetherell, fancy goods and millinery.
was at the west end She had been out
Of the store sick since Christmas and her
husband, Augustus ID. Wetherell. was
keeping the store open.
thursday evening about 10 O'Clock.
Herbert Haynes, the clerk In Spauldng'
drug store went 10 the cellar beneath the
building, which Is used by all the occu-
pants Of the stores for storage purposes.
and shut on the water. going, as was his
custom In the darkness.
Arriving at the water pipe a few feet
from the foot OF the stairs. he was
half barrel, Hight. This barrel had no
heads, but was closely covered. Quickly
uncoYering 1t he saw about two inches of
spermsceti candle lighted, sitting on bit
OF pasteboard, which in turn, sat upon a
mass OF excelsior, saturated with kero-
sene- lie put out the candle. then rau up
stairs, locked the store aud ran To o. +.
Han about quarter Of mile distant.
Mr. Hall WAS In bed but quickly got to
the scene.
Making hasty search he decided to
summon Deputy John Ii Mitchell. All
/ TINS was done without disturbing the
other occupants of the building y no slept
on unconscious Of their narrow escape.
Mr.. Mitchell on arriving entered on q
/ thorough search of the premises and soon
| got some pretty good clues He posted a
man behind some ho1es near the barrel
containing the candle, and told him to
stay and watch everything, and particu-
lary that candle. This man staid till
near noon; when he was relieved by an
other who mad the same instructions
| About noon his watch was rewarded
The basement door to the cellar opened.
Augustus ID. Wethcrell entered and adj
vanced toward the barrel. one of the
employees temporarily employed in the
building came down the stairs and Mr.
Wetherell turned aside and took up q
piece Of board and began to split it, talk
ing rapidly meanwhile. The boy wen,
up stairs
Mr.. w. went out of the basement door
and instantly returned peering cautiously
around lie advanced straight to wher.
he could see the barrel but could moi
reach it. Looking at it a moment ht
passed around near the guard, wen
straight to the barrel took up the cover
reached in took the candle and looking al
about him left the cellar.
Friday night the watch was again set
nut the attempt was not repeated. Sat
urday night Deputy Mitchell, Mr.. Hall
Mr. knowlton aud the guard confronte,
Mr.. Wetherell in his wfe's store with tn,
! proofs. lie at first denied everything re
, lating TO the transaction, but as one afte
another Of his acts of Friday were mar
/, rated he finally admitted placing tn
lighted candle there.
Thinking under all the circumstance
an immediate arrest inadyisabe he wa
allowed 10 70 home to his wife. Sunda
night he He'd from the State, driving L
, Watervlllc and taking the night Pullma
for the West
> The stock of goods was insured fo
$4,000 in the agencies of Dinsmore 4 Bick
,, ford and Chandler futile. Wetherell an
his wife are said to be under financial en-
barras1ment which led him to the Grim
that, had his attempt been successful
would have caused large destruction o
, property and perhaps the loss of life.