Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-11-13

slons at the powder mills were the work
OF the same persons who are firing the
barns. 1t has been rumored that con.
tinuation of the outrages will cause the
great powder industry and the du Points
to remove to another state or country.
TWO SUSPICIOUS PERSONS.
The only clue to the persons who
! burned the barn last night is the fact
that early in the evening two men
stopped at Mr.. Mayne's house and
asked for some matches. One of them
also got a drink Of water at the barn
we'll The fact that his dog was bark
ing just before the fire broke out as
sured Mr.. Wayne that some one must
have been about the place. The dog
had been barking on two previous even
lngs, when the tirebugs We're probably
taking observations.
INcENpIARY BEYOND A DOUBT
All the du Pont tenants had taken ex-
ira precautions since last Saturday
nights fire at the Settler farm. Every
thing around the barns and dwellings is
carefully locked up at night Even be-
fore the fire which consumed his barn
and stock Mr.. Settler would not allow
hay to be thrown down from the NOV
at any other time but noon. No lights
were allowed in the farm building at
any time, Mr. Settler would discharge
any hand at sight who broke this rule.
There were the regulations existing
with more or less rigidness among all
the du Pont farmers.
There is no question among the
farmers as to the recent fires being Of
an incendiary nature. Suspicious exist
in the direction of discharged du Pont
employees. 1t is discredited that the
work is done by tramps, but by some
one well acquainted with the locality.
There has been fear of fire right along
every night among the farmers.
This is the fourth fire within a year,
on the du Pont property. On December
18th, 1889, a company barn, known MS
the New Barn near Christ Episcopal
Church, was totally destroyed. The next
was large barn on the Sterling farm,
also company barn, when the whole
structure and % head of cattle were CON
sumed This was on January 21st, 1890;
the burning Of the Settler barn last Sat
urday night followed. This, as was
stated, was not company barn but be-
longed 10 William du Pont. The build
ing consumed this morning was a COM
pany barn rented by William Wayne,
brother Of Thomas Wayne, the butcher
OF Eighth street market.
The strangest feature of the record of
all these barn burnings is that in no
case has there been any detection of the
inGendiaries.
There are two watchmen on hand all
night at the big company barn at the
upper yard where nearly all the horses,
probably SO head, are stabbed,
THE COMMUNITY ALARMED.
A general feeling Of alarm, now de-
veloped almost into a panic, exists
among the du Pont tenant farmers
They believe that this mornings is not
the last of the fires, The entire success
which has attended the work Of the fire
bugs inspires the panicky feeling. A
neighbor of William Wayne who suf-
fered last night, is in momentary fear of
becoming a victim. He rents very
large barn which is filled with farm pro-
duce. Over 80 head Of stock is stabbed
there every night. There is no protec.
ton but lock and bolt.
As q rule all the du Pont barns and
stock are insured up to full value. The
insurance on the buildings is carried by
the du Points, the owners, while the
farmers themselves insure their stock
and produce.
sit is a fact" remarked one of the
residents of the locality this morning,
"that these fires are caused by incen-
diaries and that they are not unex-
pected."
The farmers and residents on the du
Pont property are enraged over the re-
peated outrages, They are worked up
to such pitch about it that if the fire
bugs were caught it would be lynch law
without hesitation.
whats the use of giving the men
up to the law" one of the residents ex-
claimed this morning. "'rhey will only
be let out on bail as the Chester county
inccndiaries at Landenberg were 10
days ago, with a probability Of escaping
punishment"
Last nights fire was less than quar-
ter Of mile from the lower yard, Just
across two fields where there was
large magazine, which is piled full of
powder. Had the wind been a little
higher last night, it would have easily
carried the burning fagots to the lower
powder-mill yard. Fortunately the
night was quiet, and no air stirring but
that made by the fire. If there had
been an explosion, which was easily
possible, Bancroft's Banks, the High
lands, Rising Sun and Forty Acres,
would have been influenced, and I'M
doubtelly there would have been serious
loss Of life, as every one in the enyirons
was abcd.
ARRESTED ON SUSPICION.
Two colored men are at the police
station, having been arrested on sus-
picion of knowing something about the
burding of Settlers barn ON Saturday
night. Both men had worked for Mr..
SETTER, but left him last Saturday. Mr..
Settler himself caught one Of them on
the street in this city yesterday. As
soon as arrested he said: MIR. Seltzer, |
did not burn your barn, but l know
who did" The other was arrested about
midnight, last night.
ELKTON FAIR LOSSES.
Last Exhibition Created a Shortage of
So, 335.56.-The Fair VIII Probably Be