Evening star., 1897-07-26
THE NAVY YARD FIREBUGS
Court Investigating the Recent Attempts to
Destroy Property.
Determination Expressed to Probe the
Affair Thoroughly md Punish
the Offender.

The court Of inquiry, consisting of Com
mander Pendleton and Lieutenants Rohrer
and Nicholson, met at the navy yard this
morning to investigate the alleged incen-
diary fire which took place at the general
storehouse of the navy yard soon after
O'Clock Saturday afternoon. This fire was
the third which has occurred there in two
months, the other two having been also of
supposed incendiary origin.
Flames broke out suddenly in storehouse
No. Saturday afternoon, Just after the
clerks left the building. An alarm was
sounded, detachment of marines was
soon On the scene and with the assistance
or the men from the big shop speedily
got the flames under control. Only quick
work saved the building. the marines and
workmen using the yard fire apparatus
making heroic efforts
There was great excit snent Wnen the fire
wa, was discovered, especially among the en-
ployes of the store house. The city fire
department vas not called upon for aid.
Commodore Norton, the commandant of
1ne yard. was greatly incersed when he
learned .s this fact. and gave strict injunc
tions taat IN the future, If there is even
shSht blaze at the yard, the fire depart
ment should be notified
Opinions of Detectives
Detectives who were put to work on the
case stated they have clues and hone to
nave the offender arrested in a few days
AS result of their investigation, after
the nre had been extinguished with but a
rev dollars damage, they found a bundle
OF rags well soaked with kerosene oil in
one corner of the attic. A watchlnan hap
Rened to pass through the building and
discovered the blaze which would have
made big conf1agration in a few minutes
II Is believed that the attempted incendla-
rism Is the work of cne of the forces en-
poyea IN the building, though why the per-
son or persons should attempt to bura the
properly puzzles the detectives and cyery
one one VINO knows anything about the case.
mere can be no doubt. however, that the
motive is tncendiarism
Ihere is no mystery about the fire at
an, avail officer at the yard told The
star reporter today. "The blaze was started
pv mrebug, and we want to know who he
IL W. na. Ii, rs an the mystery there is about
II. we VIII come very close to finding out
VINO Is the guilty party for a strict in
Vestigation will be made"
Inree extra guards were placed at the
sher attempt al burning the structure The
,orce e OF workmen in the general store
mouse Is there from 8 o'clock in tn, morning
10 4 In the afternoon, after which time no
ems ~ - aliowed to enter. This strength
ens tne theory that the fire was started hy
soiiie person or persons employed there.
Thorough Investigation as.ur,,
a.
tion by the board of inquiry would he q
most thorough one. and that every particle
OF evidence tending to discover the GRIM
,1ai would be gone over most carefully.
1Eere are a number of witnesses to he ex-
ahmed In detail, which will take some
,,ntei rirei ~, NO report OF results will be made
until the inquiry is finished. The board
convened about 10 o'clock this morning
ai1e was In session for several hours
Two months ago that part of the build
ing which was on fire Saturday afternoon
was burned nearly to the ground. The
nre occurred about the same time in the
afternoon as did the one of Saturday. The
portlon consumed was rebuilt. An investi-
satlon was made. but it revealed nothing.
Workmen began repairing the burnt por-
tion and the matter dropped from notice.
About three weeks later a fire occurred in
the southern portion Of the same building
only a Few moments after the force Of
workmen left the place, their days work
being ended. For the second time an in
vestigation was made, but was productive
OF no results. except that it was settled
definitely the building had been set afire
by some person. without attracting atten-
ton.