The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-07-31
fIREBUG At WORK IN THE
CENTRAL POLICE DISTRICT,
Continued from page one.


Either crank, crazy person, or
man who thinks he has grievance which
nothing will satisfy other than the de-
struction OF property and life. has been
setting fires in the Central police district.
Happily the most dangerous trap that
he set was discovered in time to prevent
panic in a lodging house in which %
persons were sheltered
There the fire was making fair progress
when it was detected In the other in
stances the flames failed 10 ignite the
woodwork
The first known OF the operations OF the
IRE bug was three weeks ago Wednesday,
when persons living In the house next 10
that occupied by Mrs. Jennie Austin and
two other tenants at 4 Carpenter street
saw man leisurely leave the back ward
and walk off on Jackson, toward Wash
ingtoh street.
few minutes later a Mr. Gilbert. who
lives on the top floor OF the building and
who had just returned from his work
at Hunts Mills-it was then 1 o'clock In
the morning, told his wife that he smelled
smoke
She told him 70 be quiet and not waken
their little boy, but as the smoke was
getting thicker, Mr.. Gilbert decided to
make an investigation.
In the front cellar and almost under the
gas meter lac discovered pieces OF wood
stacked up like a round tent.
Under this wood were pieces OF kindling
wood an old corset and some rags
This contrivance had been fired by
means OF paper and was blazing well.
few vigorous kicks scattered the
brands and a dash of water extinguished
the blaze.
The bug had chosen a place well
adapted for mischief. as the heat OF the
fire would soon have melted the solder
of the gas pipe joints and large flame
of gas would have leaped to the ceiling,
causing rapid spread OF the fire.
Fortunately for the people I'm the house
the bug" had used rags, and II was the
smoke from these that caused his deed
TO be so quickly discovered.
AS IL was all the people in the house
were called from their beds and in a state
OF more or less undress, made their way
10 the yard.
Last Wednesday. and at about the same
hour OF the morning, another attempt
was made to fire that house by starting
blaze in the covered porch of the cellar
way.
This time the woodwork was slightly
scorched. then the fire went out.
The bug" next paid his attention 10
Laura knight, whose place is at 25 Hicks
street.
Three attempts were made by using oil
soaked paper 10 destroy that house.
The first was a week ago Sunday. The
second was on Wednesday. The last
was Just after midnight Saturday. Here
the bug set his fires in the covered
porchway OF the front door. succeeding
each time in scorchng the door mat and
paint of the floor.
At ! O'Clock Wednesday morning the
bug" set FIRE TO a carriage mat and oily
paper under the back steps OF Bessie
Cooks place 80 Atwell's avenue. The
woodwork was scorched, but no material
damage was done.
At Jennie Hopklns. .place-54 Fountain
street, the bug would have made quite
good job had not his materials burned
out
The back entrance OF this house is at s
Clemence street tight board door open-
ing into a hallway.
Directly opposite the door is the en-
trance 10 the cellar.
Here the bug" last Saturday night
placed oily paper and a bunch OF parlor
matches against the cellar door, which
Ats loosely.
The wide open crack OF the door made
n fine draft for the fire. which burned
quite n way up the door frame. the door
itself and along the mopboard before Il
died out.
Capt. Lawrence has an admirable
description OF the man who was seen
leaving the Carpenter street premises and
who is believed 10 have set the fires
there al well as those which were start
ed later on the other premises.