Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-05-16
SENSATIONAL FIRE!
Narrow Escape From a Con-
flagratiOn.
SUPPOSED WORK OF A CRANK.
The Awful Deed Planned With a
Terrible PrecisiOn-DiscOvered
in Time.
SUPPOSED WORK OF A CRANK.

NNuN iht NCiilplt uttu iultnueu
The arrangements for an uncontrol
liable fire were perfect in all thei
appointments, but one of thos'
happy accidents that are unexplain
able assisted in frustrating the de
sign.
DR.. II. Smith, the aged dentist
occupies two Office rooms and 1
wood room over DearbOrn's harness
shop near the corner Of State and
Commercial streets. This morning
about 3 O'clock, Police Officers LAX,
and Dilly were Iassing that way
md were attracted ly sparks falling
from the ceiling Of the harness shop,
and closer inspection revealed
falling Goals. one proceeded up
stairs, while the other alarmed &
few Of Tiger engine company boys
who were at the engine house. Al
entrance was force l into DR.. Smiths
,ffice and a nice little blaze dis
covered making gold headway
The hose was brought and Bah
cock extinguisher, with which tn,
fire was soon put out.
Then was revealed to the aston
ished gaze tie arrangement Of thu
plot. In the wood room off the
front office and just inside the door
was set a candle, stuck between three
nails driven in piece of wood
This piece was set upon thick
block, these fully saturated with
coal oil. Leaning at an angle Of 45
degrees against this combination
was can Of coal oil full up to a
large hole cut in the can. Then the
door was shut tight and propped
with piece Of lath neatly notched
in the end so that the notch would
fit around the neck of the door
knob. Another door from the
wood room west into the smaller Of
flee was barred in like manner, the
keyhOle stuffed with cotton and Il
string OF carpet hung down oyer
the crack of the door, so that no
light would penetrate into the little
Office and be seen by roomers across
the street. The front window,
which opens double-door fashion,
was thrown partly open, presum-
ably to create draft through the
cracks which would throw the
oandle flame into the can OF oil and
cause an explosion.
In the front door leading from the
hall there is n square hole for the
dropping Of mail. This had been
whitfield a little wider, so that q
mans hand could be admitted and
II good long arm could reach the
spring lock on the inside and throw
back the bolt This would give
color to the suspicion that sSme
wretch, with grudge against DIR.
Smith or desire to burn the city,
had effected an entrance and set the
fire. The grudge against DR.. Smith
might be thought to have some
from the fact that this Is
the fourth fire in his Office In the past
Is months, two on each side Of the
street, while his barn has been burn
ed down twice within few years.
But the case has assumed II more
serious aspect in the public mind.
Whoever set the fire knew every
nook and Granny in the premises.
rhe preparations for the event were
not made hastily. Precautions were
aiken which could not have been
in II moment or in an hour.
These facts lead TO the reasoning
hat no person intent on burning
'ut DR.. Smith or setting au incen-
liary blaze, would haze dared or
'ared to take the trouble which the
of things make apparent.
THE TERRIBLE SUSPICION.
The pecuhrilies OF this and prev
ous fires about him, has led the
public generally TO suspect and
RELY assert that the doctors mind,
y reason of age and feeble health,
las become unbalanced, that he has
'ecome what might be termed II
rank on that subject, and that
hese iires-this last one IN particu.
ar-are the work Of his own hands,
'here Is Il charitable feeling towards
he old gentleman, who is one of the
'ioneer residents, but when the
fleet Of what last nights fire
night have been is contemplated,
here exists stern feeling that
must Oe done,
Had that can of oil caught fire
md exploded, all the power at the
ity's command could not have pre-
'ented AN immense loss aud there Is
10 telling at what point II could
nave been controlled, for there WAS
stiil south wind blowing, and IL
vas at such an hour of the night as
5 most difficult to get out force Of
nen in hurry.
OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION.
In accordance with the general .
'elief the officers consider there is
,ood ground to believe that the doe
or is the agency OF the fire, Mar
hal Ross held long interview
With him at the scene OF the fire in
he presence Of Deputy Dist, At
oruey Binghim, whoalso examined /
llm closely, but what action will be |
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