The evening Republican., 1902-05-06
CHARGED WITH
APPLYING TORCH

Fishee and Reuben Gordon, colored
lads on the charge Of setting fire to
properties.
The Gordon and Fisher boys are
accused of setting fire to the stable of
Mccormick Brothers and Fisher and
George are charged with setting fire
to the Peninsula Lumber Company
buildings. Aftsr these fires the George
boy was sent to the country 70 live
with his aunt, and it was while there
that he is accused of applying the
match, that destroyed the barn on
the Logan farm.
TO the detectives the George and
Fisher boys admitted that they had
been setting fire to properties simply
to enjoy the excitemtnt and to derive
fascination from the operation Of the
fire engines. Gordon accompanied
them when two of the blazes were
started.
Traced directly to the three lads,
according to the detective, that the
fires that devastated the stables of
Mccormick Brothers, and the stable
of the Peninsula Lumber Company
south of Market street bridge, and
the destruction Of the large barn on
the farm of Samuel Logan, in Mill
Creek hundred, all since the first of
this year,
The first Of these mysterious fires
was that in the property of the PENN.
sula Lumber Company, on January
%. 1t burned brlskly, and seemed
to have gained great hcadway when
discovered. The stable was badly
damaged before the tiremen conquer
ed the llames. but the horses were
gotten out in safety.
This was followed on February 7
by fire in the stable of McCorm ick
Brothers, also along the causeway
just beyond Market street bridge.
so rapidly did the building become
envcIoped in seething flames that it
was impossible to get all the hoyses
from the tuilding. Three of the
amin ais perishcd in the fire. The
property of Jones Guthrie. adjoining.
also was damaged by the flames be-
fore they were eXtinguished, and
Il loss of several hundred dollars was
sustained.
These fires were of mysterious ori.
GIN but for while the efforts of the
owners and OF the authorities to I'M
earth the person who was applying
the match we're batled. The first
suspicion toward u member of the
trio arrested last evening was found
after the destruction OF the barn on
Samuel Logan's farm in Mill Creek
hundred, near Greenbank, on April
: last.
This barn was q fine structure about
GO feet wide and 100 feet long, filled
with hay, straw, wheat and grains,
and with valuable farming implements
Like the fires in this city the barn
was discovered in flames, and despite
a valiant fight made by tile folks
from the surrounding country. the
building with most Of the contents.
was doomed. The horses and cattle
were saved, however
From circumstances that cameto
his knowledge. Mr. Logan sus-
pected that Ezekiel Butcher George
knew something Of the origin of the
fire, and Detective Rkatledge was
notified. The detective learned
that the George lad had been liy-
ing with an aunt not far from the
Logan farm but a short time and
that during his stay in the country
lie had permitted his penchant for
starting fires run to such an ex.
tent thatheig uited bis aunts dwell
ing house.
Pursuing his iuvcstig alton furth-
er Detective learned that young
George lived until less than two
months ago, on Guthrie's Lane, in
this city, and then Tor the first time
he was suspected of being con.
cerned in the starting OF the mys-
terious fires in the properties Of
Mccormick Brothers aud OF the
Peninsula Lumbe Company. Aft.
er making inquiries in the neigh
borhood Detective Ratledge last
evening concluded that he had OBJ
tained enough evidence to warrant
the making OF arrests. and with
Constable Jones he took the George
Gordon and Fisher lads IN GUS
tody.
Young George was found at his
auut's, not far from Msrshallton
and Gordon aud Fishey were found
at their homes just beyond Market
street bridge. All were in ragged
and unkempt condition and did not
seem 10 appreciate the meaning Of
the charges against them.
They were taken before Magis-
trate Hollis, and each was held in
$500 bail for trial at the upper
court on charges of incendiarism
The George and Fisher lads told
Detective Ratledge that they had
set fire 10 the Mccormick and PENN
sula Lumber Company buildings,
"What did you do that ior?' ask
ed the detective.
1--WE wanted 10 see the fire en-.
gines run, replied the lads.
Gordon denied that he applied a
light 10 the buildings but the
other lads say he was with the m
when they started the fires. After
firing the buildings the lads said
they stood around aud helped 10
lead out horses and TO remove other
property from the burning pla aces.