The Portland daily press., 1891-07-21
TWO SUSPICIOUS FIRES.
One Burned Up a Barrel; the other
Cutted a Stable.
The TWO Combined Led to the Ar
rest OF Four Young Men.

A barrel Of coal In the cellar at No. 67
Center street was destroyed by fire early this
morning. A partition near by also suffered.
The coal and partition together made smoke
enough to drive Mary Keirns, Mark Layden,
Edward Trayors, Frank Josephs and Philip
Silvia. who live in the building, out into the
night. The smoke also crept into the stock
In the variety store Of Manuel Cole and did
some damage. Then the firemen came In re-
sponse to an alarm from box five, put q
stream into the cellar, and in few minntes
had the fire out and were going home. The
building, three story wooden structure. is
owned by John Sullivan and is insured. The
loss Is small.
When the department left the fire. 0ficers
Norton and Flynn were left behind to look
after the premises. While they were sitting
on the steps. they heard voices In the yard
and heard some one say; "He waited In the
yard until the flames broke out" Norton
said to Flynn. "Did you hear that" and
then group of boys about IS years old came
out Of the yard. The officers spotted one
of the boys and decided to wait until tonight
and then see what little pumping would
accomplish. The fire, as stated above. start
ed in the cellar and the cellar window was
open.
At quarter past two. the officers hurried
over to Cotton street In response to box 412.
Here the stable In the rear Of No. 81, oecu-
pied by Chandler and Quinn, truckmen,
was all ablaze. The fire had been
discovered a few minutes before. Then
Charles w. Herrick. one of the drivers EN-
ployed by Chandler & Quinn, ran from his
house across the street In his stocking feet TO
lberate the seven horses from the blazing
building. He had In this work the help Of
several boys and young men, all Of whom
were dressed and on the spot ahead of the
department. The horses and harnesses
were COTTON out and one bale of hay. The
carts were under a shed on the other side of
the yard. In trying to lead one Of the
horses from the barn young man named
Black was kicked, but did not seem to be se-
verely hurt.
The fire had evidently started at the lower
end Of the barn. When Mr.. Herrick got in
he found considerable fire there, while
above the loft was like a torch
Now Officer Norton had not been here long
when he saw several young fellows he had
seen short time previously. They were
the same who had come out of the yard of
the building on Centre street. This was re-
ported to Deputy Marshal Sterling, and four
boys were soon behind the bars pending an
Investigation into their fondness for
attending fires, and that remark
heard by the officers on Centre street.
The burned stable was a story and
half structure Of wood said to be owned by
the Maine Savings bank. 1t was pretty we'll
gutted. The fire made great glow upon
clouds and mist aud lighted up fora few
minutes the central part Of the city. Neither
Mr.. Chandler nor Mr.. Quinn were at the fire,
but as horses and harnesses were
saved, 1t is probable that they did not lose
heavily. Mr.. HeIriek thought that they
were insured.
At the request Of the authorities the names
Of the boys under arrest are withheld.