Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-10-05
FARMERS At ROSE HILL, MA.
HAskA COUNTY, ALARMED
BY FIRES.
SERIES OF HEAVY LOSSES
BRINGS UNITED ACTION
Effort Mad. 70 Secure HIoodhounds to
Trail Unknown CuIprits-physieian
Of Nsiehborhoed Shot at While on
Road During the NIsht-Firss Have
Been Frequent.

Oskal0osa, OCT. o.-Ine OBSTRUCTION
by fire Of large hay stack on the
Oscar McCurdy farm near Rose Hill.
caused much excitement among the
farmers Of the community and an en-
deavor was made to get blood hounds
from both Ottumwa and Knoxville to
run down the person who Is supposed
to have set fire to this stack, together
with other stacks Of both hay and
straw, and to q valuable barn.
The farmers about Rose Hill have
suffered losses which amount to at
least $4,000 within few weeks. A
majority Of the losses have been burned
hay and straw stacks. The first fires
did not attract much attention, but
when they occurred frequently and in a
mysterious manner they aroused sus-
picion and alarm. The fire at the
McCurdy farm was the last straw and
the farmers arose as one body and tried
every possible means to run down the
person who has caused so much dam
age and frightened their wives and
children. Immediately following the
McCurdy fire, about twenty farmers
aroused the telephone operator at Rose
Hill, who secured connection with OF
tumwa and Knoxville. The farmers
wanted blood hounds brought to the
procure them.
A Series Of Fires.
The first Of the series Of fires oc-
Cured a short time ago when shan
ty owned by. the c.. r. I. & p rail-
"a
matter a thought. as the fire could
community was surprised, however,
when within a few days following the
first fire one straw and one hay stack
belonging to 'Jule" Wymore were de-
stroyed at a. m. It was thought
ton between the two fires. but no &C
ton was taken toward an investigation
Shortly following the Wymore fires q
straw stack belonging to Will Moore
was destroyed. This fire did not amount
to much but convinced several resi-
dents Of the community that the fires
were incendiary. A short time ago the
community was shocked by the fire al
the George Moore farm. A large barn
containing much hay and farm machin-
cry WctS COIuPiclCly Ivy ON' "a sOA
of an investigation was commenced but
stack containing many tons OF valu-
! able hay. belonging to Robert Nc
Kama. was burned.
Farmers Are Alarmed.
These fires have stirred up much ex-
; citement in the community. Farmers
are afraid to leave their stock In barns
or sheds for fear of destruction. Many
have watched their barns during the
night, anticipating visit from the
miscreant Farmers have sworn VEN
geancf and will shoot any person
whom they see about their barns after
sunset.
Several clues have been discovered
about the scenes Of the various fires
and the evidence is accommodating
There is very little doubt in the minds
OF many farmers Of the community
as to the identity Of the incendiary
In fact, they are positive as to who
is the guilty person, but they must
wait and obtain sufficient evidence.
1t is said that DR.. Wright. Of Rose
Hill. while returning from a call al
Blyth, was shot at by probably the
same person who is guilty Of the fires
Dr. Wright was enroute home from
Blyth late at night and was startled by
shot from the darkness. At first he
thought 1t was some Of the ball play
ers returning from a game at Wha,
Cheer, who. having won. were allowing
J. their victory to get the best OF them
He looked both in front and back, and
altho he Travelled considerable distance
he did not see single person on the
road. After thinking over the incident
| the doctor was convinced that the shot
from the darkness was intended for
him