The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1910-10-06
BLAzEs
Farmers in Rose Hill N,ighborhoOd
Are Aroused,

The destruction by fire of large
hay stack on the Oscar McCurdy farm
near Rose Hill Saturday evening
caused much excitement among the
farmers OF the community and an en-
deavor was made 10 get biood-houndi
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 ana
straw, and to valuable barn. The
farmers about Rose Hill have suffered
losses which amount to at least So
10000 within few weeks. A major
i ty of the losses have been burned hay
and straw stacks. The first hres did
not attract much attention, but when.
they occurred frequently and in g
mysterious manner they aroused sus'
picion and alarm. The fire at the
McCurdy farm Saturday evening was
the last straw and the farmers arose
as one body and trieu every possible
means to run down the person who
has caused so much damage and
frightened their wives and children.
At 49, 80 Saturday night, Immediately
following the McCurdy fire, about 20
farmers aroused the telephone Oper.
ator at Rose Hill, who secured con-
nection with 0ttumwa and Knoxville.
The farmers wanted blood-hounds
brought 10 the scene at once, but, IL
was impossible TO procure them.
The first of the series of fires oc-
CURED a short time ago when shan.
ty owned BY the C., r. ]. & P. rail
road was burned. No one gave the
matter thought, as the fire could
have resulted from many sources.
The community was sui prised, how
ever, when within few days follow.
ing the first fire one straw and one
hay stack belonging to julie" Wy
more were destroyed at 400 a, m.
1t was thought then that there might
Ibe some connection between the two
fires, but no action was taken toward
an investigation. Shortly following
the Wymore fires a straw stack be-
longing to viii Moore was destroyed.
This fire did not amount 10 much but
convinced several residents of the
community that the fires were incen-
diary. A short time ago the commun-
ity was shocked by the fire at the
Geo. Moore farm. A large barn con-
tanning much hay and farm machin-
cry was completely destroyed. A
sort of an investigation was COM
menced but nothing discovered. A
few days ago stack containing many
tons of valuable hay, belonging to
Robert McKanna, was burned. The
McCurdy fire of Saturday night has
stirred up much excitement 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 miscre-
ant. Farmers have sworn vengeance
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 incendlary.
In fact, they are positive as TO who
is the guilty person, but they must
wait and obtain sufficient evidence.
The OskaloOsa police department
has been consulted in regard to the
matter. They have given valuable
advice and have offered to assist in
ferreting out the guilty person. They
advise a close wtach upon the suspect
as he may attempt to commit other
crimes. II is said tLat Dr.. Wright
Of Rose Fill. while returning from
call at ! H., was shat - By probably
the same PERI . - is guilty of the
fires. DR.. Wright was enroute home
from Blyth lac At night and was
startled by a shot from the darkness.
At first he thought ii was some OF the
ball players returning from a game
at What Cheer, who, having won,
were allowing their victory to get the
best of them. He looked both in
front and back, and although he trav-
eled considerable distance he did not
see a single person on the road. Az
ter thinking over the incident the doc
tor was convinced that the shot from
the darkness was intended for him.
The fires have been so frequent
that the residents of Rose Hill and
surrounding territory discuss nothing
but this topic. All are expectant and
hope that the miscreant will be
caught in the act OF firing some build.
ing or hay stack which will put an
end to the trouble.
IC0lTE NEiIC IN nIDT