Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-07-27

VI lts AullilsuAlks anu tue IuFnlhulnBss
paraphenalia and most of the records
of the various lodges which used the
upper story as hall were destroyed
by fire early this morning. The fire
started between and o'clock
and was discovered by Night Patrol
man Steele, who gave the alarm. The
fire department made an immediate
response. but their battle against the
flames was inenectual as the fire had
made much progress. and the most
that the department. could do was to
prevent the spreading Of the dre to
the adjoining buildings BY efneient
and well directed eEorts
The cause Of the fire is unknowns
but the opinion III generally expressed
that It was lgnttad by two men who
slept In the building last night, but
whether the act was accidental or OF
an incendiary character remains to
be proven The two men. Glenn
Sales and C. spaulding, were taken
into custody at the time of the FIRE
by the police, and this morning were
turned over TO Sheriff Mcdonald. by
whom they will be held pending fur
Their developments.
Sales is well known in the city and
has parents residing here. He was
employed by the Auditorium moving
picture show, which has been con-
Quoted IN the AUDITORIUM for the
past week 70 attend % the curtains
and lights during the performances.
Spauldlng is an itinerant Snowman.
and claims to have been identified,
prior to coming here, with the Norris
a. Rowe circus. lie has also been
employed by the Auditorium moving
| picture show, and his position was
that OF general roustabout Both
Spaulding and Sales have told story
concerning the fire, but the one con-
/ hict with the other, and do not
bear close comparison. Through
the courtesy OF Sheriff Mcdonald and
his force of deputies, who arrived on
the scene early this morning to take
the two men to Rathdrum, repre-
sntative of the Press was permitted
to interview spaulding just before he
was taken to Rathdrum, together
with Sales, In an automobile.
spaulding's Story.
According TO his story he and
Sales entered the building last night
through a window at the hour of
about ten o'clock. and retired In the
property room, which was situated
directly above the stage. He was
asked whether or not he had permits
sion to sleep In the place, and he
stated that he had not. other than
that which might be implied by yir-
tue of the fact that he was identified
with the Auditorium show company
as an employee. Sales, he stated
had planned TO go up the lake on one
of the boats this morning and desired
to arise early and complete what
work he had to do about the stage.
and to this fact, and the further fact
that he had become accustomed
through circus life TO arising early.
was attributed by him as reason
| for arising between the hours OF 3
and 4 O'Clock IN the morning and go
ing down town. Ele was asked II he
did not arise 10 go down town for
the purpose Of securing a drink. but
this was denied He was also asked
If, In arising, he did not light a match
for the purpose of finding the cleo
trio light in the room. but OF any act
Of this kind he diBclalmed all knowl-
edge A few minutes after arriving
on the street. he said. Night Patrol.
man Steele came down the street
shouting fire. Some one, he said
inquired of the officer as 10 the
whereabouts of the fire, and was In
| formed that 1t was the opera house
= thought he was just Kidding, said
Spaulding. as J bad come from the
opera house. and then when ] found
out that II was 20 fhonght Of Sales
being IN It. and started out 20 look
after him" According 70 his story
he went with others to the opera
house. or found others there upon his
arrived. and told them that an en-
trance must DE mected as there was a
man in the building He was then
Informed, he said. by a policeman
that a man had been seen emerging
from it. and he realized then that