The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-28
INCENDIARIES AT EXETER
They Nail the Hose Cart to the Floor,
STUFF Water Plugs aud Cut the Hose.
Fire Damage Estimated at Fifteen
Thousand Dollars.


says:
Incendaries caused the destruction of
many thousand dollars worth of prop
erty in Exeter borough early this
morning. The conflagration was the
fiercest and most disastrous which has
ever occurred in the town and before
the blaze could be eXtinguished three
large business blocks were laid in ashes,
entailing a loss that will reach fully
$4,000.
The fire was discovered at 2 a. m. in
the vacant store room of the block
owned by the Mackin estate. Anthony
Burlock, who kept a hotel in the upper
side of the block. is the man who first
saw the blaze and he at once gave the
alarm. The members of the Exeter
Hose company reached their hose house
promptly, but when they arrived there
they were surprised to find the hose
cart nailed fast to the floor. "A strong
board had been run between two spokes
of the wheel and then nailed securely
to the floor. After some difficulty the
firemen succeeded in loosening the cart
from it's Imprisonment, and with all
haste they hurried to the water plug
nearest the fire. There they were still
further surprised to discover the plug
stuffed with burlap, stones and dirt. 1t
took several minutes to clean it and
when it was finally done they proceed
ed to unwind the hose from the cart.
But here again was the nefarious work
of the incendiaries. The hose was
found to be cut through in various
places, so that it was altogether un-
serviceable. Great excitement now
reigned. The borough owned but one
set of hose and since this was destroyed
the fire would rage unchecked and
probably destroy half the town if aid
were not forthcoming. In the emer-
gency word was sent to West Pittston
and Wyoming for assistance.
HELP ARRIVES.
In the meantime the flames made
furious headway and when the two
companies from West Pittston and
Wyoming arrived the block in which
the fire originated was destroyed and
the flames had made rapid inroads on
the adjoining block, owned by f. j.
MaGkin, of Pittston. This also was
soon in ashes and the blaze extended
to the block owned and occupied by
Charles Moses. Although the firemen
WI hCu NtlliIblS, MOSGS DullulHS W dc
also entirely consumed before the fire
was gotten under control.
Burlock, who kept hotel in the up
per part of the block owned by the
Mackin estate, lost everything. His
personal loss is $500 and he carried nc
insurance. Conner Morgan, a barber
who moved only yesterday from For
est City, also lost all his stock and fix
lures. The f. ]. Mackin property was
occupied by Joseph Chaklees as a dwell
ling and Charles Kusick as a saloon
The building Is a total wreck and
Kusck's loss of furniture, fixtures and
stock is 81 400. He had no insurance
The Mackin estate was insured fol
$500 with Hileman & Flannery's agen-
cy. f. j. Mackin's block was insured
for $4,000. Mr.. Moses carried 50, 500 in.
surance on his building, but had not
any on his furniture. Moses full loss
is probably about $4,000 and that of the
Mackins will reach eight or nine thou.
sand.
1t is not known what object the in.
cendiaries had in perpetrating theil
crime, nor is there any clue as to who
the criminals are.