The Forrest City times., 1890-11-29
ALMOST BURNED ALIVE.
Tied and Gagged by Masked
 Burglars.
LEFT IN THE FLAMES TO DIE
The Terrible Experience of . Clerk in Store at White Plains, N. Y.--Res- cued by the F,rsmen When
 st Deaths Door.

WHITE PLAINS, N. Y., November 25.- Ollie Orcutt had mems furnishing store
 on Main street. New Rochelle, when he went home on Saturday night. He did nour-
 ishing trade there. His employe was a clerk, John Grif1n. Last night after Griffin had been to church he returned to the little bed room at the rear of the store Everything was all right in the store and he went to bed His peaceful dreams were
 rudely disturbed about midnight He says that he awcke with sense of suffocation to find himself bound and gagged. He was unable to make an outcry. A dim light burned in tho bed room, A man stood over him. He thinks she mans face was masked. He struggled to release himself, and the strange man told him he would certainly be killed if he did not remain quiet Then another man came into the room. He also was masked. He said in a grur voice; That's right; fix him If he don't keep quiet"
 Tho first man examined Griffin's bonds and the gag, assuring himself that the cap. tive could neither mako an outcry nor stir hand or foot. Grifln does not know wheth. CT there were two or three men, He saw only two, but there might have been q third In the store. He could not see into the store from the place iu which he lay. Tho burglars then ransacaed the store, aud after they had secured all the booty they wanted, they set fire to the building and left Grifin expected to be burned alive There seemed to ec no possible mode to es- cape, Ills agony 0. mind was beyond comprehension. The flames in the interior Of the store fed grecdily on the inaamma.
 bse contents and rosred and cracked like furnace. Just as he gavc up all hopes re- lief came. Some one had discovered the
 fire and given the alarm. The fire depart
 ment quickly responded. As soon as the
 hrcmen arrived they set to work to save
 the store if possible
 Griffin heard the noise of tho arriving
 fircmen frors the interior of his burning prison. He could not shout nor could he
 stir He was nearly choked with smoke,
 but tho lovc of life nerved him up, and he
 managed to wrigglo along the floor until he
 got to the partition which separated the
 rooms from the store. His legs were tied
 about the knees 50 that he could not arise
 but his feet wers free He bea, such a
 tattoo on the partition with his heels that
 the fireman outside heard it. Tho next
 instant heavy axes smashed in tho doors Two fremea volunteered to go to tho res.
 cue Of tho imprisoned clerk The interior
 Of the store was abiaze, but two meu
 started in. The other fremcn played
 streams of water on them as they passed
 through the fire and smokc. moment
 later they appeared dragging out Grifia,
 who was more dead than alive from fright
 Five minutes later aud he would have been
 dead man. He would undoubtedly have
 been burned to death. Tho building was
 saved, but the interior of the store and all
 the contents were com pletc loss. The
 damage Is ahou. $500.
 Both Mir. orcots and the people are anx-
 ious to know who set fire to the store and
 meant to add to the crime Of burglary and
 arson that of murder. Tho Chief of Police
 has the case in hand. and is conducting an
 investigation.