The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-30
Story Of the Detection and Trial Of the
Portsmouth InCendIarleS.
AS TOLD BY ONE OF THE COUNSEL
Difficulties Attending tho Prosecn
tion- Conf ssi ons Of Participants
Testimony Of AccoInplicea-Four
Convicted and tho Others Afraid to
Repeat Their Grimes.
(By Willin4n H. Stewart.)

Sunday! In the night time of the
morning Of the 18th Of March, 1897, the
city was silent, the street lights glim-
mered, and the stars lent their glitter In
breathless silence. Homes were still;
the doors bolted, the shutters closed, the
curtains drawn. The infants breath
warmed the cheek Of the sleeping moth
er. The children smiled in sweet rest.
limbs, slept in soft forgetfulness. Two
thousand homes were in silence and
sleep when the f1rebell sounded, and the
red flames, famed by fierce wind,
blazed over many homes.
The lurid glare on the window panes
startled the sleepers. Up In night robes,
mothers with babes clasped in their arms
and fathers leading housekeeping chill
dren. fled to the street, and shlvered and
trembled as they witnessed the tempes-
tuous fire consume their homes-homes
dear homes, homes OF love, OF JOY. of
peace, Of plenty, Of prayer.
Why this cruel calamity? Why this
outrage upon innocence?
The faithful Waterman had passed on
his after midnight round, when two
men, followed In his wake-one had sat-
urated waste under his coat, both held
ready matches in their hands. Without
Tear Of God or man, instigated by evil
mind. the match was ignited-the waste
ablaze and the house aflre on that windy
night Swiftly they fled, while alarm
and terror spread as the unbrided fire
ragged and carried rum on its wings.
VINO are the reckless fire iiends?
Where are the sin-stained souls who de-
etroyed the home, which fathers la
Dor made for childhood'S happiness to
pc guided by the true woman whose pure
light ever shines in the beauty Of virtue
and love?
These were the burning questions on
every tongue. They were suspected,
and their names were called; but not
@ufhcient evidence could be found to JUS
Nfy their arrest Three hundred people
iWere homeless. and St. Paul'rs church,
Nlth It's sacred associations and beauti-
ful memorials, was In ruins on that Sab
bath morning. The Mayor OF the CITY
called a public meeting by announce
ment IN the churches to raise funds to
Ieleve the sufferers. 1t was organized
promptly at O'Clock p. H., and Mayor
y. Thompson Baird made a pathetic ad-
dress In declaring the purpose OF the
can. over $3.50 were promptly subscrib-
nd. Then the people who came from the
church congregations to help the suffer-
ing victims OF the great calamity, turned
20 discuss means for suppressng ncen-
diar1sm, which had been so frequent
aimee January 10, 1893
Inc Newspaper report said: "It was evil
cent from the outset OF the meeting that
Inc men who composed it were deeply
IN earnest. They acted as Il unit amidst
an omlnous quietude. which told OF re-
pressed excitement and a complete
awakening to the danger TO which the
city Is exposed by organized inccndiar-
ism"
Major J. F. Croker said. "Fellow-cit1-
zens. l was not surprised. I was ex-
pecting that the city. sooner or later.
YOU'D DE swept by contiagra ton 1
have recognized for some weeks mast
IN the succession OF fires, which have
been or almost nightly occurrence. the
work Of an organized band of inccndio-
rles. The time has come for us to organ
lze committee OF safety. Let It be a
secret ocganZa ton. Let it co-onoratA
with the authorities In stamping out ;his
fearful ncendiarism. Who can feel safc
In his home when all are haunted Nv the
rear that the tragedy or last night NAV
ne repeated at any time by the applica-
ton Of the torch ~
rms voiced the prevailing sentiment -
ana the meeting in 4 body, uno voce.