The Topeka state journal., 1897-03-09
2 HOUSES BURN THIS A. M.
And a Large Lot of Dry Goods Found
in Burning Dwelling.

There was a, fire on the corner of
Twelfth and West streets this morning
at 3 o'clock in which two dwelling
houses were totally destroyed, and
startling discovery was made which the
police department is attempting to
solve.
At PAS this morning the neighbors in
the vicinity of Twelfth and West streets
were startled by a woman's screams.
Soon there was crowd of people
gathered at the house of Mrs. William
Pope the widow of the coIored editor
who died two years ago. They found
Mrs. Pope's house to be on fire and that
the flames had gained great headway.
The west side of the house was enVel-
oped in fire and it was but a short
time until the small house adjacent to
it on the west had taken fire and was
burning rapidly. A short time after
ward an alarm of fire was turned in
from box SO at the flats. The fire de-
partment responded Chief Wilmarth
arrived first.
The fire apparatus from station No.
had great difficulty with the heavy
roads. At Polk street it was neces
sary to abandon the hose truck and
take the chemical engine to the fire
with four horses.
The firemen succeeded in saving the
house north of the others. While the
small house on the corner, west of the
Pope house was burning, Chief Will
marth discovered a suspicious looking
pile of something in the corner of the
east room, which was completely sur
rounded with flames, yet was not burn
ing in the center. In another corner
he noticed another pile Firemen with
long hooks dug the material out of the
burning building, when it was found
that the large pile contained over 100
bolts of new cloth, such as muslin,
linen, duck, dress trimmings, canton
flannel and red flannel.
The ends of the bolts had been badly
burned, but they were extinguiShed and
set aside In the smaller pile was
e. 81 IL 1n
material had the appearance of being
new.
Chief Wilmarth made inquiry as to
who had occupied the house where the
goods were found, but none OF the
neighbors knew the name of the man.
They said he was white man, rather
large, and dressed well. wore a silk hat.
The house was owned by Fireman Cliff
Meaux of station No. 3. Mr. MeauX
SAYS that when the man came to him
to rent the house he did not tell him
his name, and he does not now know it
This mysterious man would often be at
the house for four or five days, then
would disappear and not return for
several weeks. When at home the man
took his meals at the house of woman
a few blocks from his house, but she is
unable to tell his name. She says he
said but little while at his meals.
Mrs Pope. who lived next door to
him, said that the man never SAID
anything to his neighbors- He never
went to any other house in the neigh
borhood. He caused, considerable spec
ulation among the neighbors by his
oueer actions People who had out of
curiosity gone to his house were re
ceived very coldly. The man would
stand inside with the door but slightly
open and talk but little.
Chief Wilmarth made an effort to find
the unknown man last night, and fail
ing in this notified the police depart
nent of the find. The patrol wagon was
sent out and the bolts of cloth and the
clothing were hauled to the police sta
flor. where they await Identification.
The police made an investigation this
morning to ascertain if possible some
clue as to who this peculiar man was.
but SO far his name remains mystery
Nearly all the people living in this
neighborhood are colored. 1t is on the
western edge of Tennesseetown. The
fact that a man of this description
should rent a house at this location
and have nothing whatever to do with
any neighbors casts suspicion ON his
case The goods and the manner in
which they were concealed in the house
strengthen the theory of crookedness-
The unknown man has not been seen
about his house for three weeks
The two houses, which were totally
DESTROYED. were owned by Fireman
cliff Meaux and were insured.