Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-07-13
Caused by Blaze Reaching TO Can
OF Powder Stored Near
Building.
CASE HAS AN UGLY LOOK.
Undoubtedly il is Work Of Fire.
Bug Whose Identity is Not
Officially Known.

Strange story Of Threatening Letter,
Startled Neighborhood and Mys-
terry All Around.
AZ e'2j this morning. a terrific explo-
sion ON Center and Fourth North
streets awakened and startled residents
Of that section. Men and women rushed
from their homes I'm their night clothes
thinking there had been an earthquake
They discovered that a butcher shop
conducted by Seth Brown wasiu flames,
and that the windows in nearby houses
were demolished by the force Of the ex-
plosion.
THREATENING LETTER
Unquestlonably lncendiarism was the
cause OF the fire and the subseQuen;
explosion. The authorities are now
making an investigation and some SEN
satonal disclosures are expected within
few hours Threats were made
against Brown that his place would be
destroyed by fire. Yesterday Mt Brown
received a letter which stated that the
writer had Il In" for Brown. that at
tempts had been made before 20 got
even with him. and that within a few
days the place would go up IN smoke
The letter concluded by saying Il tried
20 get you before but failed The next
time ! will get You, aud get you good
and plenty
DIDN'T FEAR 1T.
II Is said Brown regarded the commu-
nication as hut AN idle threat worthy Of
no consideration whatever. Therefore.
he did not notify the police or Chief
Vail OF the fire department Had he
done So his place would probably not
have been destroyed. But he said moth
ing. and the events which followed
make 81 certain that his enemy carried
out his threat and Browns place OF
business is now little better than an
ash heap.
The building was "a one-story frame
/ affair valued al $1,000 The contents
were placed a. 800. Insurance on build
ing and contents was 500 the policy
being written by the Great Fails lnsur-
ance company The building and con-
tents We're badly damaged
WINDOWS SHATTERED.
The alarm was turned lu over the
Bell phone no the time stated Central
had some difficulty DO learning The eN
act trouble and location because the
alarm was given by woman who was
screaming frantcally 80 the phone.
The apparatus from SO 2 and Asst.
chef Crosby from no. 4 responded ana
made a quick run 20 thr scene. But by
the time the hrcmen reached the place
IL was practically gone and they turned
their attention 90 saving other property
TIE widows 300 nearby houses were
broken and the roof and walls were
blown up by The explosion
WHEN FIRE STARTED.
According 60 the statement made toe
day by chief crosby, 10 was apparent
that the FIRE was started under the
building The flames set on fhe pow
der Mr. Brown stated that be had
some pow der LOO a keg OF can. outside
Of the building in an bee box. Although
windows were broken and houses
shaken no one was injured
NOT OFFICIALLY REPORTED.
chief YAH stated this morning that
no repor, had reached him as TO the
threatening letter chief Sheets Of th-
police department eaid the dISt h-
knew about % was tbe Information fur
uished him hy the News" Tie staten
that had Brown informed him o. the
receipt % the letter. De would have
placed men % watch The premises and
capture the person who attempted tp
carry out the threat The matter -
now being invest gated and lt Is be-
noycd that the author o. the letter VIII
boz run down and arrested
~ HANDS OF SHERIFF
II was learned this afternoon that the
letter received by Brown making
threats against him. WAS turned ovcr
90 the sheriff. and the contents were
made known 20 the insurance company.
The letter Is the second one of the Kind
received hy Mr. Brown. About six
weeks ago am attempt was made 90
burn his place dJYn. bot the efforts OF
the scoundrel who Ola the work we're
folled An Investigation is going on
and the authorities are determined 90
run 10 earth the guilty person.
MRS BROWNS STORY.
MIS- Seth Brown vas very much wor-
ned when she was interviewed hy "a
News" reporter 30 her home half a
block above The burned meat market oh
Fourth North street She said that Mr.
Brown had gone down 90 the knight
Packing company 60 arrange about !.
new meat supply. ani when 8skcl
about The threatening letter she said
ihat o. was true that such "a letter had
been received and showed .r'y tho
nervous Strain from uyinr Ger the
fear Of "a constant threat hanging over
the Family This is the second attcmqt
made % burn the shop down" said MH
Brown. Six weeks ago someone tried
a. and failed. ana night after that trial
the letter came 10 vas very Insult
ng letter. and toIi Mr. Brown the write
CO. would get him next time Mr.
Brown iook the letter t1 thp Insurance
company who carried hs insurance..
and De vas worried good deal about
h. BE kept cory rh'e1 re hls U'ft
him. and also gave n r17y t0 rha sheriff.
Z think"
THREE NEN saw NOTHING.
Three men passed hc butcher shop
about Ten minutes before the terrific
explosion. and declare there was ro
evidence then of anything being wrong
They ara o.. FlarItrs. Samuel HIs. ana
q Mr smith uh0 lives at t7- and te5
north Mau street. within o. few doors
MI the butcher shop They arc di car
conductors. and were returning from
work Nr Flanders said he had Just
finished undressing when De- heard the
explosion. and ihe other men went out
o. see the Gre NGghhors az Brown
state that Dc has talked over with them
no matter 30 the thrcaienilg letfer
And has said he had a pretty good idea
who sent a. although 10 nlncs we're