Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-05-27
A YOUTHFUL
INCENDIARY
Harry Anderson, a colored Boy, Con-
fesses to Have Set Fire to the
Montana Club Building.
JUST TO SEE THE HORSES RUN
In a Written Confession He Tells Of
Previous Attempts to Destroy
the Place.

Possessed of an uncomfortable de-
sire ito see the fire horses run and
TO help the iremen work" Harry An.
dcrson, a 1i-year-old colored boy, for
the past month and until 1880 O'Clock
last night elevator boy at the Montana
club, set the blaze that resulted in
the total destruction of the magnif,
cent Montana club building on the
2sth of April.
This is the substance of a confession
made by the boy to Chief of Police
Thomas Travis early this morning,
after he had been taken TO the police
station. Not only did he confess both
the attempt at the destruction of the
building on the night of April % and
the fire which destroyed the struc.
turc, but he admitted that he was re
spGnsible for the two bla2es that dam
aged houses on South Hoback and
Spencer streets, and belonging 10 Ed
ward G.. Cole. since the club fire.
Members Suspected Fire Bug.
When the first attempt at the burn,
ing Of the club building was made
there were evidences that led mem
bers of the club to feel sure the blaze
had been the work OF u fire bug. At
that time Harry Anderson, who had
been in the employ of the club only
a few days, was found hiding in the
basement OF the building.
Again, when the fire that demolish-
ed the building occurred there were
signs Of the work of an %incendiary,
and the boy at that time was discov-
cred under suspicious circumstances
on one of the upper floors, ear the
point where the fire originated.
Spring the Trap Last Night.
These facts were reported 20 the
officers and they went to work on the
case. To prevent suspicion on the
part of the boy, he was retained in
the clubs employ after 1t removed to
its new home in the Word house.
The trap was not ready for the spring
ing until last night. When all was
ready a warrant was sworn out be-
fore Justice OF the Peace +. L. lib
belts. who was called to the police
station about 1890 o'clock. The war
rant was placed in the hands of Chief
Travis who went to the club and
placed the boy under arrest, bringing
him shortly after to the station.
Here the chief held a session with
the boy, with the purpose OF learning
il possible the part the boy played
in the firing of the club building. II
required no sweating" process to
bring the boy to the point where he
told the full details of his terrible
work.
Does Not Look His Age.
Clad in knickerbockers, neatly dress
ed and scarcely looking his IA years.
the lad recounted to the chief the cir
cumstances surrounding his attempt
to burn the building on the 2lst. He
passed on TO the second attempt,
which proved successful. and then
went on to detail the facts connected
with his firing the houses belonging to
Cole.
Through it all the boy gave the
narrative with all the GOODNESS of the
experienced. and yet he is not such,
for with the exception of the charges
that are now laid at his door the boy
has always, so far as could be learn
ed this morning, borne the reputation
of a quiet. peaceable lad. The story
was told with the calmness that was
shown by the boy when he was inform
ed by Chief Travis that he was under
arrest.
As TO the method employed for
starting the blazes at the club build
ing. young Anderson said the work
had been accomplished by the use OF
a gunny sack and a box Of wood,
Confession Reduced to Writing.
The boys confession was reduced
to writing. This the chief deemed
best not TO make public this morning,
and instead gave out a statement de-
failing the facts as here given. About
I o'clock the diminutive prisoner was
locked up in the bridal chamber. lie
went into the sell with no show what
ever of contrition. further than that
conveyed by his remark that he had
no idea the fire would cause al much
damage as it did, believing that the
fircmcn would make short work of the
blaze.
Had Been at Work Short Time.
The prisoner is a son of Julian An
derson. whose home is at ~ South
Alta street. not far from the scene ol
the fire on South Hoback. for which
the hoy had confessed responsibility
The father has been employed at tn,
Montana club MS waiter for the pas
eight years. Little more than a month
ago the son secured the position o
elevator boy at the club. He was Ol
duty from ! o'clock i'm the afternoon
until > ia the morning, amt cyiirntll
had hccu ut work only Il few nights
when h" began t0 experiment scttir.
urrs Ia order to crafty his desire &,
srr the fire horses RIM ana Wort
vl|h tho drymon.
Young Anderson is "A bright mulatt.
ana his face carries marks 81 intelli
grnpo. Ne has hCeu a pupil at IN.
Central school hnilding.
Julian Anderson the lathor, Cailc.
GO ,h, police station to a. his so.
! .u. morning. and while clcsrtci wit.
, bin tho little follow contcssod to hin
/, larof ne lathcr said ihr boy ma.
never aid a word that would lead hin
/ POO .iaUyCr that the boy WIS guilty d
Iny inuwBdiarism.
, WORK TO Be RESUMED.