The morning call., 1893-11-11
A YOUNG FIREBUG
Sets Fire to the Clement
Grammar School.
Miles Baird, One of the Pupils, Con-
fesseS lie Always Had Mania
for Fires.

The children in one OF the upper rooms
of the Clement Grammar School on Geary
street, near Jones, were startled yesterday
afternoon shortly before o'clock, when
they saw a little tongue OF flame, followed
by volume of smoke, penetrate the cell
ing of the room in which they were sitting.
Miss Callahan, principal of the school, was
promptly informed and an alarm was
sounded from box 49, 1t was then sup
posed that the fire was caused by de-
fective flue, but it subsequently was mace
manifest that it was case of incendlarlsm'
The children. who had been put through
the fire drill in the morning. marched out
in good order. There were about 'oo Oh
them and there was no confusion. NO one
was injured, and the pupils showeu ho
signs of fright while passing out.
A plucky Incident was the rescue OF
Mabel Barnert. a la me girl. from the thira
story by Matthew Long, 10 urteen-year-
old boy. who rushed upstairs ana caiFieu
her down in his arms. Al.
The fire was in the garnet between the
ceiling of the upper story ana Tue TOOL "
was suppressed with little difficulty. alter
having damaged the building 10 the
amount of $500 C,,;oe
Fire Marshal Towe. Assistant C,iiel
D0ugherty and Captain COmstock, while
searching for a clew as to the origin OF the
fire. found partly burned piece Of paper.
on which an exercise had been written,
and which bore the name OF Miles Baird.
They made inquiry and ascertalned that
there was boy of that name IN MISS NC
Farand's seventh grade class.
Baird, who is II years OF age. was
brought before them, and on being asked
by the Fire Marshal if the paper belonged
to him he denied knowing anything about
it, Marshal Towe, however, showed con-
siderable skill as crOss-examlner, ana
finally succeeded in getting Baird to admit
that it belonged to him. Then he broke
down and confessed that he set the place
Cd fire.
He said he heard the boys talking about
running with the ladder in the yard to the
side of the building and climbing quickly
up into the attic at the fire drill IN the
morning.
The idea then occurred to him that he
would get the ladder, climb up into the
attic and set fire 10 the building 10 see how
the other pupils would act in case OF real
fire.
When he got into the attic he pulled
match out of his coat pocket, and 1t is sup
posed that in doing so lie also accidentally
drew out the paper with the exercise on 1t.
He lit the match and dropped 1t between
the wall and the studding, but it went out.
Then his eye lighted upon piece of
tarred paper and he struck another match.
applied ii 10 the tarred paper and dropped
the burning paper between the wall and
the studding.
This was more successful than the
lighted match, and when he saw the SIN o Ike
beginning to roll up he became frightened
and made his way AS quickly as possible
into the ward.
His confession had to be drawn out of
him bit by bit, and all the time he was on
the alert so as not to tell too much. But
Marshal TOwe got out OF him that he
always had a craving 10 set places on fire.
and that when he was only years old he
He did not seem to realize the enormity CT
his crime in imperiling tie lives OF be-
tween 700 and 800 children.
Marshal Towe took him TO the Central
station and booked him on the charge of
arson. He kept cool all the way to the
station, but when he was placed before
the sergeant's desk he began TO cry, and
kept it uD for a considerable time.
The boy lives with his mother and STEP
father at 145S Franklin street. and they
were informed Of his arrest.
Marshal Towe says that in his expert
enee he has had three girls and another
boy who were afflicted with the same
mania as young Band.
Young Baird's mother, brother and sis
ter visited the Central station last even
ing, and there was an affecting scene for a
few moments.
About an nour afterward Judge Low
himself for the boys release. The Judge
had accepted bond for $1,000. The boy
was taken home by his stepfather, Benja-
min II. Baird.