Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-17
FIXED ON FIREBUGS.
Incendiarism the Only Plausible Cause
for Oakland Fires.
NATURAL GAS COULDN'T DO IT.
Citizens of That Section Demand InVestiga
tion and Protection.
A MANIA FOE ARSON TO BE CHECKED

confirmed the theory that lncendlarles were
| at work in that section. As often as this
idea has been given publicity it was laughed
down as being ridiculous. the laughers in
variably propounding the question: "What
motive could the incendiaries have?"
The reasons advanced were that the work,
if done maliciously, must have been done
for spite, or in the hope OF gain, in the way
of robbing neighboring houses, allowed to
left unprotected during the excitement of
the fires. Others again raised the natural
gas theory-a theory which had good argu-
ment to maintain it, as it is universally ad-
mitted that the pressure is very erratic in
that vicinity, particularly at night about
II o'clock, necessitating extreme care on the
part of consumers to prevent accident.
Again, it was argued that the fires
might be caused by the boys of the vicinity,
who were continually found playing in and
around the structures destroyed.
| SEARCH FOR THE CAUSE.
With the idea of fixing definitely and
reasonably on some cause or other, DIS
PATCH representative has thoroughly can
vassed the district. The Oakland patrol
| SLdLLOu S6cu6U 70 Ou6E Tue DSSL bL8EblHR
point, and it was pitched upon first. But
| little information of value could be ELECTED
| there. Whether or no those in charge there
resent the many imputations that they are
not attending to the district under their
charge as carefully as they should, or
whether the idea prevails that to be surly
and silent is to be dignifed, or when ques-
toned direct meant that an indirect reply
would be the correct thing, certain it is
that little news could be obtained
there. The only reply that came near
having any connection with the inquiry was
one to the effect that there was "more fuss
than feathers" in the prevailing reports;
that the fires generally resulted from care
lessness in the handling Of fuel, gas, etc.
Inasmuch as it was afterward found that
in only one or two of the ten or more cases
Investigated natural gas was in use in the
buildings burned, the sarcastic assertions of
the police officials will hardly hold good.
ALooK AT THE RUINS.
The next place visited was the house-or
rather the ruins of q house-owned by
George Mcmillan, now residing in Chatta-
nooga, Tenn. This house had been unoc-
cupied since last fall, but, as several persons
had been at work in the building for several
days previous to its destruction, preparing
it for Mr.. Mold, of Hugus & Hacke's, who
had rented it, it may have been natural
gas in this instance. Opinions differ re-
gardlng it, but the majority favor the gas
theory in this case, as the light of the CRATE
fire had been noticed showing through the
window during the previous evening, but
the confagration did not take place until
A. NJ. on February 2. This was the only
house that was in finished state.
A L., Hha
at the junction of Gilmore and Ward ,
streets, are the ruins of the two houses
burned shortly after o'clock on Wednesday
evening last. The natural gas theory does
not appear to be worth button in this case.
The houses were in course of erection. Only
one was under roof. Noplaster of any kind
had been applied, and even the chimneys
had not been built
NO CHILDREN ABOUT.
The neighbors claim that no children were |
about and had not been for some time. The |
nearest neighbor, Mr.. Collins, who works |
in the Keystone Mill, was the first to dis |
cover it, and he gave the alarm, but nothing !
could be done to save the houses.
On the same street the ruins of the charm.
ing little brick house of Mr.. Harry Russell |
are located. This house was nearer COM
pIetion than any of the others, but no
natural gas connection had been made, as
the chimnevs were not completed, and it
contained no hearths at all. Plasterers had
been at work on the ceilings, but on account
of the conditions mentioned no fire had
been used in the house. In this instance
there is almost undoubted proof of incen-
diarism. Several nights before the con-
fagration domestic employed in the house
of Mr.. Robert Sellers. which adioins that
of Russell, was standing on the rear porch
of the house, when she heard
noise very like that OF an igniting
match in the Russell structure, and
noticed a light fash in a moment through
the windows. Almost Immediately man
jumped from the rear of the house and fled
rapidly down the hill If arson was in
tended it was failure, for it did not burn
attention to the matter the following morn
ing.
BREAKING THE NEWS.
Meeting Mr.. Russell shortly after, Mr.
Sellers said, 81 say, Harry, somebody wants
hat house of yours.
Mr.. Russell, not understanding, what was
meant by this remark, Mr.. Sellers informed
him of the occurrence of the night before.
Che former thought but little of the matter
Until it was forcibly recalled by the confa-
,ration following night or two afterward.
On Boquet street another house was
ocated, in which shavings and wood chips {
lad been saturated with oil, but it burnt
tselt out without doing any damage, on
of the greenness of the wood. An
'ther house on Atwood street, in which oil
gnited. Then the fire in Oakland square
n New Years eve-an occasion, BY the I
vay, celebrated by four different attempts |
t incendiarism-in the house being built ,
" Contractor G. II. Chance, and number {
I others situated on Oakland, Fifth and
Vivian avenues, and Ward and Charles 1
treets, where the attempts at incendiarism
re clearly proven.
NO NATURAL GAS THERE.
In none of these cases, as far as could be q
earned, had natural gas been turned on, so
hat theory must be abandoned. Nor Is
here any proof that fire of any other kind
ad been in use in these houses.
Messrs. William Biggey, John Moore and {
J. H. Chance, contractors and builders, have
sed every effort to get clue to the lncen- b
iaries, but without avail. They rather s
avor the idea that the acts are all commit /
I'd by one person who has a sort of mania il
u the subject. Another belief which has
aimed considerable credence is that some Q
ne who feels sore at the employment of y
scab labor, or non-union men on the
uilding work, is at the bottom of the
,ouble, but this hypothesis loses weight
hen it is found that in the case of the house :,
a Oakland Square, which Contractor
hance was building, only union labor was
mployed. Whether any non-union men
ere working on the others cannot be POSI- Ii
vely stated, but from what could be learned, I,
lere were. r
Whatever may be the cause :,
,rtain it is that residents are very much =
- noL | v