Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-01-14
A $1,000 Morning Fire.
{. H. FIagg's Residence Consumed,
Building Insured for $3.50 and Content.
for $500.

Between the hours Of and 7o'clOck
this morning the comforts ble, modern
! residence Of f. ii. Flagg, on Oak
street, university addition, was re-
duced 10 ashes by what is supposed TO
have been an incendiary fire.
1 The ire was first.dIscOvered shortly
after O'Clock by Mr.. Flaggis daugh-
I tee, Miss Maude, who from her bed.
I room on the second floor, saw the
flames as they made their way
1 through the flooring and partition
which separated the kitchen from the
main building, aud spread TO the roof.
( She quickly gave the alarm, haYing
awakened the remainder Of the fam
lily. G. II. Lane who lives one door
east Of Mr.. Flagg's residence property
was the first 10 reach the burning
building and having sent his son on a
bicycle TO give the alarm 70 the fire
department, assisted in removing the
furniture ETC., from the structure. The
greater part of the furniture was
saved, that upon the second floor be-
ing destroyed, however.
The fire department made an excel
lent run reaching the scene Of the
fire in short order. The engine was
promptly stationed in South Mill
rear OF the burning building and two
good streams were soon playing on
the flames. The department did
splendid work in saving the adjoining
dwelling house on the west, also owned
by Mr.. FJagg. This building seemed
doomed a number Of times but 1t was
saved, being only slightly damaged.
The burned residence was built
about four years ago at cost Of $3.50,
but is now a total loss. Mr.. Flagg car
ried an insurance for $50 on the
building with the Commercial Union,
G. ID. Gabrielson being the local
agent. The loss TO the contents OF the
building is placed at $3.50 by Mr.. Flagg
making total loss Of 1880.
The contents OF the building were
insured as follows: Furniture s275;
clothing, Sl25: pictures, aud other
works OF art S75; and printed books
S25. This Insurance was also carried
with the Commercial Union as was
also an insurance for $500 on the ad-
joining dwelling house, which has
been occupied by a Mr. Rulings and
his two sisters who are attending Will
lamette university.
Mr.. Flagg was seen this morning
by a JOURNAL representative and
when asked as TO the origin OF the fire
stated that he was firmly convinced |
that IL was'of incendiary origin. He |
is supported In this theory from the |
fact that when first discovered the |
fire was located on the side porch and |
and in the east wall Uf the kitchen. |
This theory is further supported |
from the additional fact that there |
had been no fire in either of the stoves |
in the building since early Thursday |
evening. The lamp, which was always |
left burning in the sitting room, was |
found undisturbed this morning after !
the fire was discovered.
The fire is supposed to be the work |
Of an ugly gang OF tramps which has |
been besieging the neighborhood for |
several days past. They would ap-
proach a house aud request something !
TO eat. Should the lady OF the house |
refuse to grant the request, she would
be shamefully abused by she fellow,
with an Outburst of the vilest sort Of |
language. They have been making
things very disagreeable for the resi-
dents or that section OF the city and |
the ladies who have been |
kept in constant fear OF trouble from
the hobo element.
Early Thursday evening Officer
George Townsend met trio of the
gang in the vicinity Of Mr.. Elagg's
and ordered them TO leave
.own immediately, threatening TO
,auSe their arrest should they remain
Onger.
Mr. Flagg is as yet undecided as to
where he will reside.