The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-27
BOLD ATTEMPT
To DESTROY A
STORE BY FIRE


What appeared TO be a bold attempt 10
burn out a store in one OF the business
blocks In the centre OF the city occurred
just few minutes before midnight last
night and in spite OF the lateness OF the
hour the affair caused considerable ex-
element
The blaze, which at one time threat
ened the entire block, was finally extin-
guished after a hard fight and man who
is believed 10 be connected with the at
tempt to burn the place. Is resting at the
police station, where up 10 noon today
he had refused TO give his name or 10
make any statement believed TO be any
where near the truth
II was Just before the clocks struck
the midnight hour that persons who were
standing in the vicinity of Main street
square were startled by the sound OF
muffled explosion, followed a few seconds
later by the noise OF breaking glass.
Almost at the very same minute two
men were seen to dash through big
show window OF store In the Arnold
block on East avenue. Almost with the
breaking of the window the flames from
the interior which appeared TO be all
ablaze burst out with the men, and IL
was seen that there was quite fire under
way.
Up on the corner OF Main street there
was a little party OF young men waiting
for late cars and as they saw the TWO
men start on the run down East avenue
someone set up a shout OF stop thief
and catch them" and then the entire
crowd began pursuit. The two men were
evidently badly frightened, for they ran
all the harder. Just at this minute
car headed for Providence came along,
and one OF the men made as though TO
board IT, but instead Of that the two sep
arated. While one continued down East
avenue the other went up over Church
Hill. The fellow who went down East
avenue was without either coat or nat
and he ran with great speed. A rev MN
utes later he was seen by Onicer Aoams
near the corner OF Division street, anu
the officer concluded that there was some-
thing suspicious which would warrant
him in stopping the fellow. The OFFICER
had no knowledge OF what had been go
ing on up at the square. but he began 10
question the man. He gave NUMBER OF
evasive answers and just then serst
Gardner came along, having come direc'ly
from the fire.
The man refused TO give his name and
East avenue when a man standing In
doorway. flushed out and grabbed his coat,
which he had been carrying on MS arm.
The patrol wagon was sent for ana the
fellow was taken 10 the station.
-rn-the- meantime the fire department
had been summoned by an alarm from
Pax 6. and there was quick response
When the fremen reached the place the
entire store was ablaze. The store Is USED
as a tailor shop and all the cloth In the
window was on fire, as were also the
walls and ceiling and IL was veritaole
furnace.
The chemical engine extingueshed most
of the flames and then IL was discovered
that there was a lively fire In progress
In the basement. This required couple
OF lines OF hose and IL was a couple or
hours before the fire was out.
Chief Butler was on hand with the first
niece OF apparatus He found the 'front.'
door OF the store open and the keys on
the inside. He stated that every piece OF
cloth he touched seemed TO be saturated
with kerosene, which left an odor on his
hands and there was strong odor or
kerosene everywhere In the store. There
is not the slightest doubt there was de-
hberate attempt TO burn out the store and
II would appear that the police have
caught at least one OF the men who did
the Job.
The loss 10 the DullulnB, winch ls OWHeu
by John II. Arnold. is estimated at $1,000.
and II was thoroughly insured. An EFFORT
was being made this afternoon TO learn
II the goods In the store were insured,
but this has not yet been found out
The store was let about a month ago
by James e. Brennan. the agent OF the
property. to two men who gave their
names as william Baer and Philip Lof-
CHER, but for certain reasons they had
been notified to vacate by July /. Mr..
Brennan and Mr.. Arnold were at the
police station this morning, but the man
who was arrested was unknown to either
OF them. He refused to do any talking
TO them. but Chief Butler and Mr.. Arnold
declared very strongly TO Capt. Vananda
that II was their desire TO have this case
pushed 10 the limit and that no expense
must be spared to secure the other men
IL possible.
The man under arrest was interviewed
by the police several times during the
night and he told several stories. After
first declaring that he had been passing
by the store when the fire broke out, he
later changed this and said that he was
on the inside and that he was engaged
with one of the proprietors In making a
purchase OF clothes. He declared that
when the other man struck match TO
light the gas there was an explosion,
and before ne had an opportunity to grab
his coat the whole store was In flames.
The man was not arraigned this morn
ing and at noon Capt. Vananda stated
that he probably would not be brought
before the court before tomorrow morn
ing.