The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-10-30
THREE VICTIMS OF A
MIDNIGHT
FIRE
MRS. f. b. FRIEL AND TWO
DAUGHTERS PERISH IN THEIR
OWN HoME-NIGEL JACKSON
UNDER ARREST.

Two persons perishing amid smoke and
flame, another dead after two hours of
agony as result of the fatality, an
other still suffering with injured limbs,
makes up the tale of the most terrible
and heart rending disaster that has
agitated Honolulu for many long year
The fire ITSELF to add to the story Of
disaster would seem to have been start
ed by some miscreant whose murderous
instincts rendered him careless of the
consequences in an attempt to revenge
himself for alleged wrongs. The dead
ae Mrs. f. b. Friel, her daughter Ma
mie, married to Nigel Jackson who is
now under arrest as the supposed incen-
diary, and Eta Friel another daughter
fifteen years of age. A ten year old
daughter jumped from the second story
and lies with an injured leg. Five
other inhabitants of the incinerated
dwelling, Edward B. Friel, husband of
the dead woman and father of the dead
girls, Anna Voeller Mr.. and Mrs. E. b.
Watson and Leon Tobriner escaped un-
scathed save for the loss of dear ones
and nearly all their personal effects.
The residence of e. B. Friel is
located on Nuuanu street, half way up
the hill that leads to the cemetery and
beyond Judd street. The house is on
the eva side Immediately beyond the
rectory of Canon Alexander Macintosh
and the residence of j. S. b. Pratt,
executive officer of the Board of Health
With Mr.. and Mrs. Friel and their two
unmarried daughters lived Mrs. Nigel
Jackson, a daughter of the family and
lately separated from her husband,
divorce proceedings being now pending,
j. Friel, purser on the steamer Mika-
hala, Anna Voeller, Mr.. and Mrs. e. B.
Watson, Mr.. Watson being agent for
the Singer Sewing Machine Company
and Leon Tobriner, clerk at Hyman
Brothers and professional musician.
These non-members of the family oc-
cupied rooms in the Friel residence as
dodgers.
Leon Tobriner came home from re-
hearsal at about one o'clock this morn
ing. A light was burning in the room
of Mr.. and Mrs. E. B. Watson, on the
ground floor in the mauka front corner
of the house Tobriners room lay di-
rectly behind this. After having a lit
tie refreshment, Tobriner retired for
the night not having seen anything to
arouse suspicious of any disaster being
near at hand. Shortly afterwards the
light in the Watson room was eXtin-
guished This had been kept burning
so late on account of the i'll health of
Mrs. Watson.
Within half an hour the whole house.
nOl0 was asleep. FROM Suspicious, par
TALLY confirmed this morning, it is be-
lieved that somewhere in the rear of the
premises, a shadowy figure was skulk-
ing, waiting until the lights We're all
extingushed and everybody asleep.
Shortly after two o'clock the times and
watches vary, fire started in the kitchen
and soon attacked the main building,
the kitchen being built out as an ad-
ditiOn on the makai eva corner of the
hOllGA Tho iDmat rOllSp6 stimuli
taneously. Patrolman Mccormick pass
ing along his beat saw the flames
mounting to the sky and galloped to the
alarm box at the corner of Nuuanu and
Pauoa road firing the general alarm
two shots from his revolver as he went
He then galloped back to render assist
ance with the neighbors who speedily
gathered aroused by the shots many OF
them believing a riot was on hand un-
til they saw the burning house.
The alarm reached the central station
at 2:15 by the station clock, and the en-
gine and the hose cart started on 6
gallOp. Sparks We're shooting up from
the burning house and threatening the
houses in the vicinity. The light hose
cart passed the engine and the canvas
pipes were speedily connected with {
llydrant higher up the hill. A stream o
an inch and half of water was forced
with reservoir power easily over tht
house and seeing that he had all the
necessary water, Chief Thurston order
a.