The Washington herald., 1906-11-10
FIREBUG IS CAUGHT
Started Five BlazeS in New
York in Three Hours.
CIGARETTE CRAZED YOUTH
Danced with Ecstaey at sight of the
Flames and Wanted To Know How
Many People PerisheG - Woman
Dies of Frlght-WhOle NeighbOr-
hood Is in CONSERVATION.

New York, Ncv. 9.-SuspeCted Of being
responsible for the FIVE incendiary fires
which occurred inside of three hours late
last night and early to-day. and caused
the death of one woman from fright and
injuries to many others, Frank Morris.
twenty years old. was taken TO the West
Sixty-eighth street police station by De-
tective James /. Dresnan to-day
There IS no doubt IN the minds of the
police that every one of the fires which
occurred IN the two blocks bounded by
West Sixtieth and West Sixty-drst streets
and Columbus AID West End avenues
were started by the same incendiary, and
they are equally positive that the firebug
was bent not alone on the destruction Of
property. but the destruction Of lives.
In making their tnvestiga uons the police
learned that an understood youth. with a
bad complexion, stocp- -sh0uldered. and
dressed in black clothes. was among the
first at every fire. When he saw the en-
gines working and men and women being
rescued he was ecstatic.
To Henry Riger. Of los West Sixty-frst
street. he said in front Of the most dan
gerous fire:
I have seen every one of them. Do you
know how many people have died?"
Riger was not slow IN communicating
with Detective Dresnan. The detective
traced the youth to l03 West Sixty-third
street. His face was black with smoke.
His clothes were singed. and part Of one
sleeve was burned away Morris was
ia g~ar, 20 Hn efassos, Barea
Woman Dies OF Fright.
The woman who died from fright was
Mrs Caroline Swain. seventy years old, Of
10 West Sixtieth street The first fire
started in the adjoining building
Adrian Tompkins. forty years old, OF 1iG
West Sixtieth street was 50 badly burn
ed about the head. hands. and feet that
ne collapsed when he reached Roosevelt
Hospital
The entire neighborhOOd was 50 aroused
that thousands thronged the streets in
various stages of dress and undress.
The excitement spread along Broadway.
and in the Hotel Marie Antoinette. En-
pire, BeIleclaiTe. Ansonia. and other ho-
tells IN the neighborhoOd of Lincoln
Square. the guests were aroused. They
long after day dawned. The fires began
al midnight and it was 3 o'clock before
the last one had been extinguished.
Swift Succession of Fires.
The first outbreak. was az 105 West Six
tieth street. and the hremen had not sue
ceeded I'm controlling the flames there be
fore smoke was seen Issuing from l57
West Sixtieth street. The fire here was
slight. The first fire was put out after
$500 damage had been done. and the
iremen we're returned 10 their stations
when flames started at 2i5 West Sixtieth
street
Within half an hour a fourth fire was
discovered at 2i9 West Sixty-first street,
ard then terror reigned. People rushed
about the streets. some white and silent
others weeping and crying out in fear.
Following the fourth are. which caused
500 damage there was half an hour OF
apprehension. and then great rush OF
flames came from the windows At ll0
West Sixty-first street. This was the
most serious Of all. and two more alarms
were sent in. The firemen. though we'll
tired out from their previous efforts and
expecting more fires would break out al
any moment went at this fire desperately.
Lad Is Cigarette Crazed.
The reserves Of the West Sixty-eighth
street West One Hundredth street, West
Forty-seventh street West Thirty seventh
street. and West Twentieth street stations
were ON duty until daylight
Morris, when arraigned before Magis-
trate Steinert, was held in S2,OOO BAR for
further examination on Sunday. He is
believed TO have become mentally un-
balanced through the smoking of stromo-