The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-09
UGLY WORK OF FIRE BUGS.
INCENDIARTEs TRY TO BURN SIR. j.
u. JOHNsON's RESIDENCE.

That Is the belief of the Firemen'
The Police. However, Think the
Fire Was the Result of Careless
ness-Its Timely Discovery and the
PROMPT Work of the Firemen Save
the BuiIdsnE and Possibly the
Lives OF SIr. J0hnsOn's Family.
The fire department sot in some good
work yesterday morning and under difti-
culties at that. People passing on Liberty
street at an early hour saw flames leaping
over Mr. Julian b. Johnson's residence.
The alarm was given and a call was
sent in from box No. p. at the De Soto
by the policeman on duty in that neigh
borhood. The alarm worked badly and
confused the hremen. sounding ia on the
first round and registering 50 on the in
dicators at the houses. The men at head
quarters started on a run for the southern
part of the town, but in going down Dray-
ton street saw the smoke and flames in
Perry street lane and made q quick turn
for the scene.
The chemical engine ran down the lane
and was ready for work in a couple of
minutes after it's arrival The wooden
doors of the lane entrance were burst in
and the IRE was discovered in the ser
wants building. 1t had already spread to
the main building, however, and the blinds
and other woodwork in the rear were
burning. The fire evidently had a good
start.
Mr.. johnson and his family were in
peaceful ignorance Of the flames beneath
them when the hremen arrived Mr.. John
son told a Morning News reporter later
in the day that he heard the alarm, but
made 1t out to he 50. Concluding that the
fire was not in his neighborhood he turned
over for another nap and was fast asleep
when the firemen arrived Their shouts
and the dashing of water against the
windows aroused him and concluding that
the fire really was in his neighborhood ne
ran TO a rear window and looked down.
He was surprised to see that the tre was
on mis- own premises.
When Mrs. johnson heard that the place
was on fire she ran down stairs with her
children. She met Chief Puder at the front
door, who told her there was no danger
The firemen already had the fire under
control This was due to the good work
done by the chemical engine. The seat OF
the fire was in the rear entrance IT haV-
ing evidently started there and spread
upwards to the servants rooms and then
across to the third floor Of the residence.
II was easy 10 get at and the flames We're
soon subdued. The chemical stream was
also turned on the rear of the residence,
and the flames were eXtinguished there.
Then to make sure a stream from NO. ) en-
CINE was turned on and the building wash
ed down.
II Is a question whether the fire was due
to incendiarism or carelessness. The ap-
pearances of incendiarism are very strong,
but the motive is lacking. Mr.. Johnson
said he believed the fire was of incendiary
origin, but he had not the least idea who
could have made such an attempt or
why they should have done so. 1t was
evident that the Intention was to burn
the servants quarters rather than the
residence. MI. Johnson thought possibly
that some enemy of the cook, who was
the only person living in the yard, might
have attempted to cremate her. The cook
was off on a vacation, however, and there
was no one in the building. Had it been
occupied it is almost certain that the
occupants would have been suffocated
in their sleep. The indications were that
some inhammable substance had been
placed on the wooden floor of the entrance,
and then set fire to. A large hole was
burned in the flooring. Some who were
on the scene early thought they could
detect the smell of kerosene.
Chief Puder and Foreman Steinberg
are satisfied that the fire was of incen-
diary origin Detectives Wetherhorn and
Kiley however, who made an investiga-
ton are of the opinion that the fire was
due to carelessness on the part or some
one. Their theory is that either lighted
match or a spark was dropped by the
4aIy hai
night and that the fire smoldered for sew
eral hours before breaking into flames.
One reason for this opinion is that large
pieces of charrcd wood were found on the
floor where the fire started, which would
not have been the case had il been quick
fire The rear doors were found fasten-
ed by the firemen on their arrival, while
an incendiary would have had to leave
them open in making his exit One rea-
son which made Mr.. johnson believe the
fire incendiary was that he heard dog
in the yard barking very furiOusly about
43O o'clock. which, he thinks, was the
time the fire was set.
The building is owned by Mr.. Thomas
Ballantyne and was the residence of the
late Capt. r. G.. Fleming. 1t runs back
almost to the servants quarters in the
rear, which makes 1t easy for the flames TO
communicate. The damage is slight, be-
ing not over $500 altogether.
Engine No. l, while on its way to the
fire collided with an electric light pole at
Broughton and Drayton streets break
ing up some of the woodwork and tenn
porarily disabling the engine. Fireman
McRae. who was driving, was thrown
forward to the ground. but was only slight
~ bruised He is serving temporarily dur
ing the suspension of Driver Bennett. The
accident was due to the parting of the
Center line. making 1t impossible for the
driver to control the horses.
WANTS $4,000 DAMAGES.