Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-10
MAKE
FIFTH ATTEMPT
OCCUPANTS DISCOVER FLAMES
At ONCE
Building at 1912 Santa Fe II
Again Scene Of Small conflasra-
tlon, Said to Be In-
cendlary

Fire for the fifth time during the last
month broke out at 1312-1314 Santa Fe
avenue last night, and its origin, as
the other four fires have been, is attrib-
uted by the occupants to incendiaries.
Mystery surrounds this fire, as 1t did
the others, and the occupants, Mrs. c.
Downs and daughter and family claim
that negroes are trying to oust them
from that neighborhood.
The fire was discovered in the cellar
Of the building at 1914 by John Clayton,
who was sleeping in the second story
Of the building at 70 o'clock, and for
fifteen minutes he fought frantically
to check the flames.
Mrs. Cornelia Downs heard someone
on the steps about 10 o'clock last night
Immediately she rose and started to go
to the rear door, Before she had
crossed the kitchen a man about six
feet in height and wearing dark suit
and slouch hat passed the kitchen
window.
Fires at Fleeing Man
Determined to catch the man, who
ran past the window, Mrs. Downs
rushed to the front door and caught
sight of the man as he crossed Santa
Fe avenue. She raised the revolver
she had grabbed and fired one shot
which failed to take effect. The man
disappeared In an alley in front of the
Downs residence.
A few minutes later Officers Allen
and Spellman arrived on the scene
Both approached the house from the
alley opposite the Downs residence.
They met no one coming out or walk
ing up the alleyway.
The case so far as the police are
concerned is a complete mystery. The
officers who visited the Downs resi-
dence last night would not say that
they suspected the residents of the
house. but admit that the fact that
the fire is always discovered in time
to put it out lends a strange phase
to it.
Always Soaked With Oil
The house on each occasion has been
thoroughly saturated with kerosene.
Last night rugs and sacks under the
floor of the kitchen were wringing wet
with the oil and it is a mystery that
the house was not burned to the ground
even before the inmates were warned
in time to escape with their lives.
Recently a negro was employed to
watch the house, with the view of dis
covering the incendiary. Saturday night
he claimed that he heard match
strike, made a hurried attempt to reach
the supposed source of the sound of
the match. but failed to either see or
catch anyone. No one even left the
premises.
The house occupied by the Downses is
owned by the Fairchild. Gilmore & VIII
| ton company, one of the largest pave
", rHrnG q
employees have been discharged from
the service of the company within the
past month.
1t was at first thought that one of
the discharged hand was at the bot
tom of the repeated attempts, but, 1t
is argued, that if this were the case
the attempts would be made on the in
flammable stock yards and barns within
one block of the house.
The first attempt to fire the house
was made on the night of June %, the
second June 90, the third on June 80
the fourth July 7, at which time ar
effort to fire the house adjoining the
Downs residence was made. The fifth
attempt was made at midnight last
night.
The police have investigated the case
carefully Last night it was stated
that every effort to identify the mis-
creant would be made Immediately.
Accuses Negroes
When Clayton first discovered the fire
he found burning gunny sacks soaked
| in oil on the floor of the cellar which
| led him to believe the fire had been set
Mr.. Clayton says he knows it is the
| negroes in the district, who are said tC
be antagonistic toward the white fam
| lilies living in that section.
The police believe the incendiary Il
a discharged employe of Fairchild, VIII
son g. Gimour company, a cemen
concern. Officers are now looking 70
the man.
No loss of property was sustaine'
in the fire last night. owing TO the fac
that it was discovered only few min
utes after it was lighted, and befor
the fire department arrived the flame
| had been extinguished.
jefferson Wilson did occupy tn
premises at 1912, but moved away sew
eral days ago on account of the fire
which occurred at the house. But Clay
ton resolved to stay. come what may
He has been watching for the allege
firebugs during the last week and
determined negroes are attempting t
run him out of the district.
! Last Friday morning a paper an
gunny sacks soaked with oil wer
found burning between the two build
} ings, and since that Clayton has bee
: watchful for any suspicious character
laN