The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-10-17
SECOND ATTEMPT
TO BURN STEVENS
Three Fires Started at Post Yes.
terday by Men Bent on
It's Destruction.
NO CLEW TO PERPETRATORS
Officers ut n Loss to Understand
the Motive for the Crime
Yesterdays Losses We're
Quite Heavy.

IncendlarIes are again making an ef-
fort 20 destroy Fort Stevens. the new
government post al the mouth OF the
river, but they have succeeded thus far
only lrmd"stroyng some old buildings.
The first plan to destroy the fort by
fire, some three months ago. did not
result In the wholesale damage intend
ed. the blaze having been extlnguIshed
before II got under heldway. For the
second time, attempts to &c. fire to the
post were made yesterday morning and
during the day. and this time the in
cendiarles succeeded In completely de-
stroying building. The renewed
attempt has created much excitement
at the post. and evary effort viii be
II AIDE TO bring to justice the guilty
party or parties.
Three separate fires were started yes
terday. The first blaze was discovered
shortly after midnight and was In an
old building that had pern used as
storehouse, The building was filed
with valuable supplies and the loss
would have been heavy had not the
troops succeeded In cxtinguishlng the
FIRE The incendiarics had carefully
planned their work. ana II was only ar
ter the mos, dilgent efforts that the
fire was got under control. The build
ing was damaged, but the contents
were not affected by the fire.
The second blaxe was discovered at
3 o'clock yesterday morning. In the.
newly constructed lavatories. The
destruction of these buildings was
threatened for time. but the efforts
OF the tronis were again successful In
preventing great loss.
The third fire occurred at 1880 In
some old buildings used as pumping
stations. The last fire was burning
fitrcely before Il was discovered. and.
although the troops responded prompt
ly and bent every energy. the build
ings were entirely gutted. entaihng
considerable loss. An exact statement
of the total loss from the fires coula |
not be obtained but II is probably be-
tween 5000 and $1,000.
Major Humphrias, commanding at |
Fort Steve rs, Is at sea for on explana-
ton of the hcndish work OF the man |
or nen Who have eeen starting the |
fires within the Notifications. He |
stated yesterday that he believed the
ineendiary must he insane. as rc !
reason for the effort to destroy the
most could be found Two men at the
fort We're suspected of completely in
the attempted destruction, but there
was rothing upon which they could be
held. During the day the officers
fourd MATCHBOX and a can contain
iHb " quantity VI hSioSGllV, uut owner |
ship Of the box could not be traced to
anv Of the soldiers.
When the first attempt to destroy the
fort was made, about three months
ago. the officers found a note signed
The Twelve Dynamiters," In which
the threat was made that the effort 10
hurn the post would not cease until the
object had been accomplished. At
that time the officers doubled the
guard. and this precautlon against
repetition of the attempt had been
in force ever since, Soon
after the first fires were started ad-
itcnal fire. fighting apparatus was
sent for but 1t has not vet been re-
,eived at the post, although expected
shortly,
The officers will now conduct a
investigation and will leave
nothing undoae to bring to justice the
lends who are trying to destroy one
VI the best equipped posts on the
'oast.