The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-01-25

the death throes of the conflagration. At
$3.50 o'clock the fire had been fully mas
tered and about two hours later the recall
was sounded
The interior of the chapel after the fire.
men had left was in deplorable state.
This portion of the building is furnished
with pews, chairs, books and a piano. The
chapel is divided into three rooms, which
are used as parlors, and the Sunday
school library at the side of the first par
lor. Next TO the library is n small store
room, and it was In this room that the fire
started. The church is heated by means
of three furnaces, one of which stands
directly underneath thia library and
storeroom. At the time the sexton
Charles Cleggett, left the building the
fires were in good condition and there
no evidences of overheated woodwork.
Broken glass and debris of all kinds lit
tered the floor, and the streams of water
thrown on the roof trickled over every
thing in dreary manner.
1t was at first thought that the fire
caught from the furnaces, but S. s.
Sprague, chairman of the building com
mittee. advanced the theory that il was of
incendiary origin. This was ridiculed at
first, but later developments served TO
corroborate his belief. and a confession
made by a demented youth some time
later served TO remove all possible doubts
on that score. The name of the youthful
Dre-nenu iS James Mcbunlgle, VINO, IL is
said, is half-witted. During the pro-
gress of the fire McGunigle approached
Capt. Marston of the fourth station and
stated 10 him that he had set the fire.
No credence was given his story at first.
but his persistent declarations of guilt at
length made an impression and he was or
dered to tell his story, which he did in the
Fourth station in the presence of Chief
Child. Mayor Potter, Capts. Marston and
Costine, and Fire Marshal Windsor.
McGuniglc said that he was walking
through Stewart street at 2:30 o'clock,
and seeing the door OF the chapel open, en-;
seboo there the idea % Of visiting @ hs t%la te%cb
err, Miss Fannie Williams, passed through
his feeble mind.
He found the place vacant and roamed
over the entire building without meeting
any one. After time he became tired
and Law down in the church for short
rest. While there the recollection of
kick administered him by n former sex.
ton came TO his mind, and realizing that
"A splendid chance of revenging himself on
the sexton was within his grasp he made
preparations TO burn the place. Taking a
newspaper in the library he ignited it and
carried IL into the church, throwing the
blazing mass in pew lie. The paper blazed
for time aud then the fire died out with
out doing any material damage TO the
pew.
He returned TO the library and, bringing
"a large number of old newspapers from
the basement carried them into the small
storeroom and set fire To them. After
seeing that the fire was we'll under way,
he left the church and after wandering
around a short time, decided TO ring in an
alarm. His search for box was not sue
cessful and while he was hunting vainly.
he heard the alarm struck from box l2j.
He returned TO the scene of the fire and
eventually concluded to give himself up
to Capt. Marston.
McCiunnigle said that his reason for
committing the rash deed WAS that his
step-father abused him and that he de-
sired TO be sent TO the State farm, and also
be revenged upon the former sexton. He
said that his life at home was very un-
happy aud claimed that his step-iather
beat and pounded him. For the past two
weeks he said he had been working at the
soapine factory, and had made a complaint
OF his step-father's cruelty To Capt. Baker
OF the Third station, but owing To a lack
of witnesses nothing could be- done.
McGunigle was formerly AN inmate Of
the reform school. remaining there until
II years OF age. His mother then secured
his release, and he has since been In all
the large cities OF the East. lie c!aims 10
have been i'm the hospital at Philadelphia,
undergoing treatment for. water on the
brain. and also claims that he was at
railroad station at Baltimore. During
the night he remained at the Fourth sta
tion, and this morning was arrigned In
charging him Sith arson under the com