Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-12-22
FIRE BUGS I'M DANBURY.

$500 - 10y @<<@As - -
Two Ineendiary Fires Cause a Loss
of Seventy-Five thousand Dollars
The Housatonic Freight Depot
Burned - Later Particulars A
Second Destructive Fire.
DANBURY, Dec. 21.-Some months ago
all Danbury was aroused over series OF
incendiary fires which destroyed large
number of valuable buildings The police
details were doubled and every precau-
ton taken to thwart or capture the fire
bug. Two large fires within the past
twenty-four hours have again alarmed the
town. Both are said to be of incendiary
origin and the utmost precaution is again
entailed upon the police and watchmen.
Property valued at $50, 10000 has been de-
stroyed by this last appearance of the fire
bugs.
On Saturday night at 1920 flames were
seen to leap from four different places in
the lumber yard of Osborne Brothers on
White street. The lumber, which was
mostly pine, burned like shavings and
the flames Boon destroyed everything in
the yard and were fast moving towards
the freight depot of the Housatonic road,
fifty feet away. This was soon wrapt
in the flames and the removal
of freight occupied more attention than the
mastery of the fire. The firemen finally
extinguished them, but the flames from
the lumber yard threatened to commune
cate to the numerous factories in the
vicinity. The efforts of the fremen were
directed toward saving these buildings,
which were kept well saturated, and thus
saved from destruction. Very close to the
lumber yards are the hat factories of
Meeker Brothers, S. T. Newman and
others. To all of these considerable dam
age was done by water. In the Housatonic
freight yard the flames communicated to q
freight train which was loaded and already
to be taken out. Six of the cars, contain
ing general freight, were consumed. The
lumber yard is owned by Charles E. and
Chester G. Osborne. In it were stored
many Thousand feet of lumber, most OF
which was consumed, together with several
sheds. The fire was kindled carefully and
the work must have been quickly done.
The loss is estimated at 500, 200.
SECOND BIG BLAZE.
DANBURY, Dec. 21.-The fiiremen of this
city have had their hands full during the
past twenty-four hours. Only few hour
after the lumber yard fire another one wa,
discovered in the paper box shop owned
by Green & Beebe, which was totally de
stroyed, as was the Reid machine shop
which adjoined. The flames then jumped
across the street and attacked a dwelling
house owned by a man named Barnum
which was also destroyed. The destroy
ing element, not content with this
next proceeded to carry ON successful op
erations with three barns in the rear of thu
house. These were also destroyed.
The losses are as follows: Greene ant
Beebe $15, 900, c. Il. Reid 5000, Georg'
Barnum, on house, $500, on barn and CON
tents S., 900. The total loss from the tw,
fires will reach $40, 900 on which the in
surance is about 100000. Shortly aftei
the first fire Officer Drum arrested Frit;
Beal on suspicion. Beal is known as al
anarchist and quantity of chemicals
were found at his house. Beal is vel
educated and is considered little crazy
The excitement in the city has been in
tense all day. Crowds have visited tn,
ruins. Should the incendiary be caugh
at his work he would undoubtedly be sho
on sight. The police have been increased
and patrolmen and watchmen are thickl,
scattered throughout the infested dis
tricts