The morning times., 1896-10-20

Incendiarism in this city has reached an
alarming state, and the citizens of Alex
andria are in hourly dread oil the fire
fiends.
An attempt was made last night to set
fire TO u frame building in the northwest
section Of the city. The house is a two
| story frame structure, No. II 8 Wythe street,
| near the corner of Columbus, and sur
rounded by u number OF Crane residences,
and had the work of the firebugs not been
detected as promptly as ii was, the result
would have been most disastrous.
IL was shortly before 10 O'Clock when
lady living in the house adjoining II heard
an unusual noise in the number referred to.
Knowing the occupants OF the adjoining
building were absent from the city, She
!, notified Mr.. Samuel Henry, a special W atch-
man. Mr.. Henry proceeded TO make an
examination, and through the window of
the suspected building discovered u light
flickerinS.
The watchman blew his whistle and
Policeman Roberts responded. The two
men broke open the door of the house.
A hurried examination revealed the fact
that all necessary preparations had been
made TO burn the building. pile of kind
ling wood and waste was found under the
stairway leading TO the second story, and
| on top of this combustible material a
lighted candle about two inches long had
been placed.
The building, which is occupied as n
grocery by Richard Murphy, belongs To
his sister, both Of whom went TO Newport
News on Friday last and are expected 10
return to Alexandria this morning. The
building and stock are both FULLY insured.
Murphy formerly occupied a building at
the northeast corner of Princess and Pitt
GfrRa hur aud I,trn nod
WORK ON THE BURNED SECTION.
The debris of the big fire on the river
front on Sunday night is being rapidly re-
moved, and in a few days carpenters will
be put TO work to construct new buildings
for the use of the Alexandria Fertilizer
Company.
All day yesterday workmen Were en-
gagged in replacing .e poles and telc-
graph and telephone wires, which were
destroyed by the flames. The tracks Of
the Southern Railway, which ran through
the burned district, We're SO badly dam
aged that the entire line will have to be re-
laid The ties were burned and the rails
twisted SO that they are of no use.
"Fishtown" will not be rebuilt until
next spring, in time for the fishing season.
The police, as yet, have failed To obtain
clew that would lead To the arrest of
the Tirebugs.
a> slultt III ne LNeHlnH LINES Oh
yesterday, the ticket office OF tDc Washing
ton. Alexandria and Mount Vernon Railway
was broken into and robbed during the
progress OF the fire yesterday morning.
The police made an examination of the
office. and are OF the opinion that the
job was done by someone familiar with
the premises.
PRED OPEN A WINDOW
A rear window, " hcb had been secured
Dy II heavy iron bar, was found open, and
1t il evident that the burglar left the
building in that way.
EAaCtly how an entrance was effected
has not been determined, as the window
bore no marks OF having been forced. and
II is thought the shutters were not opened
until the burglars had accomplished their
work and Were ready to leave the build
ing. II is reported that two men Were
seen to enter the front door OF the office
between l and O'clock in the morning.
The door was secured by an ordinary night
latch, the key TO which could be easily
duplicated.
Inc TIL from which the S35 was taken
is Il combination drawer, and does not bear
any marks OF violence. An iron safe con-
tainiug between $500 and S40O was rot
tampered with by the burglars. A lot of
railroad tickets were scattered over the
floor from the ticket stand To the window,
through which the burglars left the build
ing.
The grocery store of Henry Blount. at
HE southeast corner of Washington and
Franklin streets, was also entered and
robbed al an early hour yesterday morning.
A window was broken in. and lot of
grnceries, tobacco and cigarettes We're Sc
cured by the. burglars. Policemen Knight
and Belts last evening arrested TalkuS
Tate on suspicion of being the guilty party.
Edward Day, J. W. Thomas, BERTHE Balti-
more and Annie Taylor, all colored, were
arrested by Officers Knight, Bcttis and
Atkinson yesterday evening. for disorderly
conduct, near the corner of Princess and
Fairfax streets. james Jones, colored.
arrested on the charge OF defacing the
property of Thomas Johnson, is also de-
tanned at police headquarters for trial.
In the police court yesterday, the fol-
lowing cases were disposed of: Thomas
Craft, drunk and disorderly, fined 81 so;
and Robert Lawley. Robert Brown. Charles
Daley and Charles Gerhart, Washingto-
nians. charged with being drunk and dis
orderly on The street, forfeited So each.
John Murray. the hiehwayman. who cs-
capped from Jail in this city at an early
honr yesterday morning, is still at large.
CORPORATION COURT.
III the corporation court yesterday the
criminal cases set for trial Were continued.
Patrick Canavan, a native Of Ireland, was
granted naturalization papers. In the
cause of Franklin VS.. Seaton, a commits
sioner was appointed to make partition
of real estate.
The bronze fountain which is to lie erected
in Christ Church in emory of Rev. II.
Suter. who was rector of the church from
1S1S to 1895, will be placed in position
next month.
A meeting will be held in this city to-
nignt under the auspices of the Sound
Money League, which will be addressed by
Mcssrs. Henry E. Davis and Samuel G.
Brent,
Mr.. Benjamin Goods, a brakeman on the
Southern Railway, had his foot badly
mashed by getting it caught in turn
table ut Round Hill. He has been brought
to his home in this city.
The ladies' Of st. Joseph's Aid Society OF
St Mary's Church will have an oyster sup
per the latter part of this week for the
benefit Of the poor.
Policeman Lyles is on the sick list.
Miss Lizzie Hullrigle of Washington is
Fairfax street,
The Semi-annual meeting of Piedmont
COpvocation will be held in Christ Church
today, tomorrow and Thursday. Special
services will be held each day and will
be conducted today by Revs. R. X. Massie
and F. W. Clampett; tomorrow by Rcvs..
G. W. Nelson, G. o. Mead, E. G. Bail and
E. l.. Goodwin, and on Thursday by Revs.
E. S. Kinks and b. L. Duhring, and ad-
dresses by Revs. l.. L. Kinsolving of Brazil,
and Rev. Drs. McGill and Pike Powers
Business sessions will be held each day
EMAIERT DROPPED THE REINS.