Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-08-29
IS 7HE TOWN DOOMED?
STEUBENVILLES FIRE BUGS STILL EARD
At WORK.
About Fifteen Incsndiary Fires During the Past
Two Wseks-Fivs Fires Saturday and Sun
day Nights, -Four Of Them Incsndiary.

Steubenville citizens and officials are
still keeping up fruitless search for
the fire bugs who have been operating
in that city for the past two weeks and
q half.
This isn't bothering the fire bugs,
however, who are working as industri'
ouslv as ever, four incendiary fires hav-
ing been kndled Saturday and Sunday
nights, making about fourteen or tf-
teen since the 18th day Of this month.
The people up there are seriously
alarmed, as fires are started right
along, with apparent safety to the in
cendiarles, and large number Of citi.
zens nightly keep watch over their
property, gun or revolver In hand. Two
suspects were captured, one Saturday
night and the other on Sunday, and
the latter had close call from being
lynched, excited men surrounding the
prisoner and yelling "kilI him" "hang
hlm!" Burn the jail!' etc. The inno-
cence Of both the prisoners was fully
established, however, and they were
allowed to go.
The first fire OF Saturday night was
In DR.. Fishers kitchen, but this fire
was extinguished with comparatively
small loss. This was about six o'clock
in the evening. About ten o'clock the
same night an inceudiary fire was start
ed in a stable adjoining the rear OF Nc
Devitts woolen factory, on Adams
street. Oil had been used TO start this
fire, which was eXtinguishe1 before
great deal Of damage was done. About
midnight the same night an oil fire was
started in Boyd's stable. The inside
yard gate had been barred by the In
cendiaries to prevent the people on the
premises getting at the fire quickly,
while the outside gate, leading to the
alley, had been proped open to allow
the fire bugs TO make quick escape.
Five men had been seen examining
Corbett's stable, near Boyd's, but they
left on seeing they were discovered. 1t
is supposed they went to Boyd's stable,
afterwards, and started the fire there.
The stable was saved from destruction.
Both Friday and Saturday nights at
tempts were made to fire buildings on
Ninth street with oil and shavings,
but the men were frightened away.
About half-past twelve Sunday morn
ing stable in the rear Of the Joseph
Wannemacher property, occupied by
H. Wolf, was fired and was entirely de-
stroyed. On the way to the fire hose
reel and ladder truck collided, the
reel was destroyed, and Chief Martin
and Fireman McMlllen were badly hurt,
the Chief sustaining bad cut on the
head. This ended the Saturday night
performance.
At half-past eight Sunday night the
William Bullock soap factory was set
on fire and totally destroyed. During
this fire eX-Mayor Brashear captured q
stranger who had been acting suspi-
ciously, and the crowd insisted on lynch
ing him, but was prevented. The pris-
oner was locked up,greStly to his relief.
He gave the name Of George Watkins,
aud yesterday II was found he was from
Holidays Cove, and was innocent. He
was accordingly released. About the
time Watkins was captured, crowd Of
men and boys saw a man in an alley
with bundle of straw. He was pur-
sued, but escaped.
Last night the people Of the city were
thoroughly alarmed, and close watch
was kept, but no more fires were re-
ported.