The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1896-07-24
MALVERN In ASHES.
A Thriving Arkansas Town Almost
Wiped Out of Existence.
The Fire was OF IncendIary Origin and
Three Suspects Are i'm the Penitentiary
at Little Rock for Safe Keeping
Many business Men Financially
Ruined-Several Families
In Dire Distress

The town of Malvern, situated at the
junction of the Hot Springs and Iron
Mountain railroads, was visited by
most disastrous fire on the morning of
the 18th inst. The business portion of
the town, numbering about 60 business
houses, were clustered around the rail
way station. OF this number but three
were left standing when the ravages of
the fire ceased. The accumulations of
years of toll and frugality were swept
away, for in most instances the build
ings were frame and the owners and
occupants carried no insurance. The
main street on the south side is cleaned
out from the railroad to the Adams
store, including Sam w. Smiths, w. II.
Cooper's, the bank, Buffers, McCray's
the freight depot and all the houses for
one block fronting the railroad. On
the north side Orr's hotel and all the
buildings up to and including the White
Elephant saloon is clean sweep. Ow-
ing to the very dry weather, which had
prevailed for more than month, the
fire spread with remarkable rapidity
and swept everything in its path. I'm
fortunately the town had no facilities
for combating the flames and the town
was at the mercy of the fire from the
moment of its origin. The losses will
aggregate s15O,000, with about $50, 900
insurance.
The Origin.
When the citizens of Malvern retired
for the night that prosperous town of
l.50O inhabitants was a picture in
frame of fire. When aroused by the
ear-piercing shrieks of the locomotives
they discovered that the picture itself
was enveloped in flames. While the
people were attracted to burning cot
tage near the railroad in the uburbs
the flames bursted out at two places
simultaneously on the west side of the
main street in the business portion,
proving almost conclusively that the
fires were of incendiary origin. Intense
excitement prevailed throughout the
remained of the night. and not an eye
was closed in slumber while the terri
BILE visitation was wrecking the for
tunes of many citizens. This feeling was
intensified when the rays of the morn
Ing sun shone upon a scene of desola-
ton and smoking ruins. When a tramp
remarked in a crowd that for $500 he
would reveal the identity of the guilty
parties, it was but few moments be-
fore a rope was at hand and determined
men were demanding the information
for a less amount. The tramp, who was
a negro, perceived that he was dealing
with desperate men, weakened, say
ing he would do his utmost in appre-
bending the incendiaries.
Suspects Arrested.
Three suspects, Eugene Ingraham,
Uriah Miller and Cass Williams, were
placed under arrest. Ingraham and
Miller are white men. about 25 years of
age, while Williams is copper-colored
negro, about 80 years old. 1t is claimed
that the latter confesses completely in
the crime of firing the town and impli-
Gates both Ingraham and Miller. He
says it was done for the purpose of
plumber, and that had they not been
frightened away good haul would
have been made. Sheriff Fitzhugh,
of Hot Springs county, took the three
suspects to the penitentiary at Little
Rock for safe keeping.
The three men charged with commit
ting the crime were taken, on Tuesday,
to Clifford, station few miles from
north of Malvern, where arrangements
had been made for preliminary hear
ing. 1t was not deemed advisable to
take the prisoners to Malvern. The
prisoners waived examination and in
default of bail were sent back to the
penitentiary for safe keeping. They
are confined in separate cells and every
effort will be made to draw out infor-
nation from them.
Appeal for Aid.
The town, or rather the place where
the town once stood, presents the APP
pearance of a boomer town out West.
The borders of the burned district is
dotted with tents and other hastily inn
provised places of retreat. The ex-
tremely hot weather makes existence
in the small, cramped quarters almost
intolerable.
The citizens of Malvern have deemed
it expedient to call on other cities and
towns throughout the country for aid
in their terrible calamity, and have is
sued statement of the true condition
that exist in that unfortunate town.
After giving a detailed statement of
losses the appeal says: 1--WE are MAX
inc every effort to assist orr destitute