The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-10
FIRE In A PARSONAGE.
Blaze Damages the Residence OF
Rev. Mr.. Mason.
More Good Work In the Line Of Thief
Catching North End Notes.

There was what at ono time promised
TO be IA very disastrous fire at the parson-
age of the Ruggles Street Primitive Meth
odist church on Young avenue at about
8 o'clock last evening. James Bennett
sent in an alarm from the box at the
corner OF Smith street and Oakland ave-
nue. and when the department. arrived
one Of the rooms on the south side OF the
parsonage on the second floor was found
10 be mass Of flames. Rev John
Mason, the pastor of the church, and his
family occupied the parsonage and the
origin Of the fire Is mystery. A son OF
Mr.. Mason was In one of the upper rooms
on the north side Of the house dressing to
go down street. when he smelt smoke.
He at once notified his father, who ran
up stairs and found the room on the south
side afire. Rev. Mr.. Mason requested
Mr.. Bennett, who was passing by, TO
send in an alarm. Seeing that nothing
could be done TO extinguish the blaze,
neighbors Of Rev. Mr.. Mason began moving
some of the furniture out Of the burning
building.
The parsonage adjoins the church and
the smoke curled around that substantial
structure and many residents Of Capitol
Hill thought the church was on fire and
a story TO that effect got down street.
There was lighted gas Jet in the room
where the fire started but the blaze was
discovered In a corner some distance from
the gas jet.
The interior of the roof of the structure
had to be well torn out to get at the
sparks that had taken refuge there The
damage to the building was about 500
and to the furniture about the same. Both
were insured.
MORE GOOD WORK.
There are few meaner things in the cx-
tensiye category Of stealing than the rob-
berry of workingman of the tools used
in his daily labors. The police are con-
stantly receiving reports of such thefts,
and il is often pretty difficult to recover
the stolen property, it can be so easily
taken to great distance from the scene
of the robbery. Officers c. 4. Fort and
C.M Kirby set a good example last night
as TO the way Of catching such culprits.
1t is n regular Second station way that
works more than nine times out of ten in
that district that Of catching the thief
before he gets to the outer world beyond
the place In charge of the officers at the
station.
1t was about 80 o'clock while patroll-
ing their beats on Charles street that the
two officers saw fellow with bundle of
tools under his arm. There was some
thing about the chap that made the
officers think the man and the tools were
of short acquaintance, so they interviewed
him. The fellow with the tools was
bit diplomatic, but the officers stuck to
facts and Notwithstanding the earnest
protests of the party interviewed, that the
tools, which consisted of hammers, saws
and levels that he had been using the
articles that day and was only bit late
i'm getting home from his work, arrested
him.
When locked up the alleged working
man gave the name of Peter Mcguire,
and refused to admit his guilt. Sergeant
Hartwell, shortly after midnight, found
Itttf ohN NicPpSNN
to confess his wrong doing After few
words with the sergeant Peter said he
had stolen the tools from n new house on
Admiral street, ow ned by Archie Craw-
ford and he had been trying to sell them,
when he ran up against officers Kirby
and Fort. The stolen tools belonged to
George r. Flynn and Joseph Mcleod, and
this morning they called at the station
and identified their property.
GOLD WATCH STOLEN.
During the absence of the family of
Patrick Gibbons from their home ut S74
Branch avenue yesterday afternoon thief
entered After ransacking the house
pretty thoroughly and at the same time
overlooking other valuable articles, he took
as sufficient payment for his trouble
ladies' gold watch. There is no clue TO the
thief.
NORTH END NOTES.
The second anniversary Of the Randall
Square Gospel mission will be celebrated
at the Fourth Baptist church this even.