The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-18
THE WORK OF A FIEND.
A Midnight Torch Applied TO the
HicksviIIe Hotel.
Second Attempt Within Two Days-An
Indian Under Arrest on
Suspicion.

In the RECoRD-UNIoN yesterday was
given an account of an attempt to burn
Mrs. Johnson's Hicksville Hotel on Fri
day night last. The fire was discovered
and extinguished before any damage was
done.
On Sunday night, however, the fire
fiend made another and more successful
attempt. This time the hotel was COM
pletely destroyed, the inmates having
barely time to escape from the burning
building. None of the furniture was
saved. The loss will be about s., 900, with
light insurance.
This makes the fourth time within
few years that Hicksville property has
been burned by mysterious incendiaries.
BASE DESTINATIONS.
An attempt is being made to create the
impression that these fires have been the
result of neighborhood jealousies, and
that someone interested in Arno property
is responsible for them.
Dlsinterested persons who are familiar
with matters about Arno and Hicksville
know that there is no foundation what
ever for any such insinuation. Mrs.
Alice Nj. Nalensin alone is interested in
Arno property, and the insinuation is as
absurd as. it Is cruel, that she would de-
scend to such methods or countenance
them. Indeed, Mrs. Nalensin has herself
been twice made victim of theincendi-
ary's torch.
An Indian is already under arrest on
suspicion OF having applied the torch on
Sunday night. He had been seen hang
ing about the place during the evening,
and yesterday was found near the scene
and arrested.
AS matter of fact, the residents of Arno
are as indignant as are those Of Hicks
vile over the outrages that have been
committed in that neighborhood, as will
be seen by the following letter received
from Arno yesterday:
THE oUTRAGEs DENOUNCED,
EDS. RECORD UNION: There was a
futile attempt to burn the Hicksville
Holel on Friday night at ll:30 O'clock A
second, and unfortunately successful.
| effort was made on Sunday at midnight.
The building and its contents were COM
pletely destroyed, but by singular
providence there was no loss of life nor
bodily injury.
In the spring of 1856 the Arno Tavern.
at Hlcksvllle, the property of Mrs. A.
NJ. Nalensln, was burnt to the ground
The following winter Of 1887 Mrs. John
sons hotel, on the opposite side of the
road, was destroyed by fire. At the
OAAAiAiOAASOiIlOhO vi lCVI ii uOuSG anu Il
barn containing some thirty tons of hay
belonging to Mrs. Valensin were re-
duced to ashes. Mrs. Johnson's new
hotel, erected on the side of the old one,
was completely burned in the summer Of
1892.
And now, like destruction has come to
the hotel of Mrs. Johnson, opened but
ten months ago. An Indian, Gordon
Raphael by name, has been arrested on
suspicion.
This is a sorry record of arson and in
cendiarism for district with only few
score of resident families. The time has
come to put an end to SUCH iniquity. The
very fact that these fires have all occurred
about the same hour OF night, and by
means of coal oil, point to the same evil
doors. They should be ferreted out
Heretofore the officers have rendered
no assistance to make such discovery.
Has not the time come for the insurance
companies interested to make a rigid in
vestigation, and for the Inhabitants to
employ the services of an experienced
detective, as well as to offer a substantial
reward to bring to justice these incen-
diaries? A RESIDENT.