The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-03
ARSON WAS ATTEMPTED
At Millinery Store of Mrs. S. M. Stew
ems Thursday NIGHT

A bold attempt at arson was made at
the millinery store of Mrs. s NJ. Stevens
on North Main street Thursday evening
1t was only discovered through accident
by Misses Belle AIsbaugh and Bertha
Hereford, two of the girls who are en-
ployed in the store.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stevens had invited the
employees TO make up a theater party for
that evening. These two young ladies
came down town to go to the opera house
and stopped at the store to prepare for
the theater Miss Alsbaugh always car
ries a key TO the room. She had some
trouble in finding the lamp and went into
the rear room or workshop, and there
found the lamp with the globe off in a
box OF hats and trimmings. 1t was burn
ing. A string was attached to the lamp
and following this it was found TO pass
out through the keyhole Of the rear door.
The young women were frightened and
ran out and called a policeman, who when
he saw the lamp put the blaze out and
sent for Chief Burt and Fire Marshal
Walden.
The two officers thoroughly investigated
the matter and in the meantime Officer
Penniwell had telephoned MIR. Stevens.
telling him of the attempt TO burn his
wife's store. Mr.. and Mrs. Stevens came
directly down town and the affair was
more thoroughly investigated.
There was no clue as to who did the
work. but it was certainly cleverly plan
ned. The lamp was almost covered with
hats, paper and ribbons. the most com
bustible OF material. The flame was SO
close to the material that Chief Walden
stated last night that il was miracle
that nre not start before it was dis
covered. The least jar would have thrown
the fire into the paper.
The fire would have had good Roadway
before it was discovered has. the plans OF
the incendiary been carried out The cur
I "A front of the store were down
tight and unless policeman in walking
down the alley had noticed the fire it
could not have been noticed from any
point and could have burned half an hour
before it was discovered. The room was
filed with hats. paper and ribbons. aud
the fire in this material would spread
rapidly.
The police in their Investigations found
q piece OF the top of the box in which
the lamp was placed just at the rear door
and IL was supposed for time that the
incendiary entered through this door.
Chief Walden stated last night that the
door was bolted from the inside. The
person who set the trap either entered
through a window or had a key 10 the
front.
Had this attempt at arson not been dis
covered before the flames caught. IL would
have endangered many >--ousands or dol
lars worth of property. Narneys iewelry
store is the next door south and in the
same building. and only very thin pas.
tition between the two rooms. Mr.. Var
ney has an immense stock Of jewelry.
that would have certainly been ruined
had the fire reached his room. In the rear
room of the jewelry store was piled many
boxes filled with excelsior and paper and
this would have burned rapidly, and as
II would be impossible TO see the fire from
the front or rear, much Roadway could be
gained before an alarm could be turned
In.
Mr.. Stevens had nothing to say about
the matter when called upon last even
ing. He stated that the business was
his wifes and he had no interest in ii At
sll.
Mrs. Stevens said that she had not the
least idea who II was that was so low as
10 try to burn her out. She acknowledge
that there were some people who seemed
40 dislike her. but she did not believe she
vss hated enough by anyone that they
would try to destroy her property. She
has no bitter enemies.
There was s.. so insurance on the STOCK
n two companies. II. II. Dewey repre~
ronffng one and Wheeler & Kelly the
ether. Both policies were cancelled yes