The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-03

Roanoke has been treated to fire Of
so palpably an inoendiaW origin that
the utmost speed and vigilance should
be used by the authorities to bring home
the crime to its perpetrators and
visit him with condign and speedy
punishment. Drawers stuffed with ex-
celsior, saturated with coal oil, papers,
several inches in depth, placed beneath
the counters, fire which starts with
no possible explanation, save that OF
criminal human hands, are the leading
points in evidence.
More than these are other evidences
of carefully premeditated design, too
carefully, in fact, for their every detail
showed design.
An investigation will be set on foot
to-day, which will probe the matter to
the bottom and woe to the guilty party
be he detected. The crime of arson is
punishable with death.
Two men passing up Salem avenue
about ten minutes Of o'clock this
morning discovered fire in Laskey's
jewelry store, on the corner of Salem
avenue and Henry street. They noti-
fled Sergeant Griffin of the fact and he
Instructed officer Freeman to turn in
the alarm, which he did from box al.
Shortly after the Vigilants arrived
their horses became frightened and
dashed up Salem avenue. Fortunately
no one was in the wagon.
The fire was soon under control and
when the tiremen got into the building
they discovered that large amount Of
excelsior saturated with kerosene had
been placed into the drawers and also
scattered over the floor.
1t was probable that the fire had
started in one of these drawers and had
spread along the cases. The building
was flooded with water, and the glass
in both the doors and show-cas broken.
TIMES reporter went to Mr.. Laskeys
residence on Eighth avenue 8. W., and
informed him OF the fire. Mr.. Laskey at
once went to his store, but the chief of
the fire department had given orders
that no one should enter the building,
and the police would not allow him to
go in.
There were few cheap movements
in the cases when Mr.. Lasky arrived,
although he said that the cases were
full of watches and other goods when
he left the store. If this is a fact thew
were removed before the fire, as they
were not there when it was discovered.
The building in. which the store ia
located is owned by a Mr.. Baker, of
Winchester, his agents in this city be-
ing c. OLeary & Co. The upstairs
rooms had formerly been occupied bv
Mr.. Cohen and family, but they moved
out about week ago, and since then
the rooms have been vacant
Mr.. Laskey was unable to state the
extent of his losses as he could not get
into the store. He informed TIMES re-
porter that he carried $4,000 worth of
stock, which was insured for either
Sc, 500 or $1,000. He did not remember
the exact amount.
The Juniors we've first to attach their
hose, and when the water was turned
on the stream struck the horses at.
tached to the hose wagon of the Vigil
lants, which had just come up. The
horses became frightened and dashed
up Salem avenue.
The team kept up the avenue until
opposite thesboulevard. They then cut
across lots, and soon come in contact
with the iron fence around Geo. Am.
mons yard. The gray horse was thrown
and 80 entangled that he was unable
to rise.
A number of 6ren4en ran at their
utmost speed in pursuit of the flying
team, being guided by the barking of
the dog that ran in front of the wagon
the whole distance.
The bay horse cleared the fence, sus-
tanning no injury save slight scratch.
but the large gray had his leg caught
between the iron rods of the fence and
fell over, unable to rise. His leg was
badly wrenched and otherwise injured,
but it is thought that he will recover.
The other horse was brought back to
headquarters, but the injured one was
unable to walk SO far and Mr.. L. Il.
fishburLe kindly offered to take care
OF him till he is able to be brought back
to the department. The hose reel was
but slightly injured, and it was wheeled
back by the fIemen.
FIVE RIG IcNGTNES ORnEFEn