The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-02
PHNBMEN7S SET ATTIRE.
Two suspicious Cases Above
Newark Avenue Last
Night.

The police of the Second precinct are
mysti1ed over two fires which occurred
within their lines last night. and which
IRE believed to be OF incendiary origin.
At one Of the fires there was evidence
that al attsmpE at arson had been made
aud at tho other the peculiar circum-
'ancss surrounding it leads the police to
believe that the same party who Was un-
successful at the first attempt again tried
to carry out his nefarious designs. This
nl~ zs did nearly 5000 damage. and as it
,ccurrei at an hour when all the tenants
ot the burning buildings were asleep, the
suspicion that arson was ommltGed Is
strengthened.
Fl FIRST FIRE.
The first fire broke out at half-past
seven O'Clock in the woodshed OF the
dwelling. No. 47S Henderson street.
owned and occupied by James Robinson.
Mr.. Robinson. who was In his aoarf-
ments at the time, smelled smoke and
CELLAR and found iamss In his woodshed I.
Cotton waste saturated with oil had bssn
placed on she cross Hars which hold the
floor beams on the f1sor above apart. and
set aflre. Mr.. Robinson exttnquished
The blaze ana noti1sd the pelice.
This is net the first attempt that waa
made to cre this house. About q year
though the pslics made q thorough ex-
amtnatiea the gallty party was moi
brought to justice. Mr.. Robinson says
that he is Mt a loss to know WHY his
property should be selected for destrue-
ton. He knows Of no one who might
Derperrate such an outrage In order TO
wreak vengeance. and heard M one 60
into the cellar during the evening.
THE SECOND
The second fire broke out at a quart ter
to four O'Clock, in thu tive story frame
tenement house, No. 350H Fourth street.
Just who discovered the flames Is q mat
ter that Is another mystery to the police :.
Some unknown person sent In m alarm
from BOX No. IS, and In order to get at
the hook whicn mast be pulled for an
alarm, smashed the iron door. presum-
ably with o stone. Toe blaza spread
RAPIDLY, and before the fremen arrived
the building was q mass of flames. Tne
flames haa communicated to the %adloin-
ing frame tensments. Nos. 34S and
$50. The high Wind famed the flames
and made the work of the fire laddies
most difficult. The inmates of thu burns,
ing houses. as soon as they were
awakened. rushed into the street in their
night clothes and stood and shivered
until the residents in the nsighoorhood
ObChoC tnCAk aOblh tu u AuIOlbAbdUG
people and kept them indoors until the
flames were ~extinxuished.
After an hours hard work the firemen
had the flames under control and shortly
after they were entirely extinguisned.
oRIGIN OF TIE FIRE o KNowN
No one being at the house wnere the
fire broke out knew how the blaze
started, but the police will investigate. Il
Is believed by some that the Sersou who
sounded the alarm aud SMASHED tho
door of tho box started the blazs, aud
after realizing what the result would bs
Rave the alArm and then made himself
scarce. Ths building No. 359H. which is
owned and occupied hg Jonn keynolds,i Is
damaged 81, SOC. MIR. Reynolds fur aiture 10
damaged S., 1000. The building and fnr-
nitnre Is partly injured. The house, No.
34S, owned by William DYkaman, was
damaged $500, and the furniture OF each
Of the occupants, Mrs. james Ball and
Samuel Sterling. was damaged $500. No.
$50, owaed by William Moan, Is da n
nged $3.50, aud Is insured. The occupants,
Isaac Startling and William McKsnny,
zach had sheir furniture damaged 10 the
extent of $500.