Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-27
THINK LUNA PARK FIRES
WORK OF AN |NCEND|ARy
Rigid Investigation of Origin
of BIazes at Resort Is
Now Being Made.

That three mysterious fires at Luna
Park within the last few days were the
work OF an incendiary is the opinion OF
the park officials and employees. A rigid
investigation Of the origin OF the fires IL
being made by Commonwealth Attorney
Crandall Mackey and Sheriff Palmer OF
Alexandria county. Va Although the
authorities have as yet made no arrest. 1t
is expected the person suspected of being
the firebug will be taken into custody
within a short time.
One man who is suspected is declared
10 have been seen but short time before
the flames were discovered in the vicinity
of where two Of the fires were started.
He is also said to have been about the
place while the flames were being extin-
guished.
The first two fires occurred last Sun
Gay, but as no property was burned moth
ing was thought Of the matter. The dis
covery of q fire in a small dressing room,
of the airdome. one Of the largest and
most expensive buildings at the resort
Tuesday night, however, brought about a
climax.
Acrobat Discovers Fire.
Shortly after o'clock Tuesday night
Harry Swartz, a member Of an aerobatie
room. The boy. who is but seven year.
of age, had concluded his performance
in the building with his three brothers
the building. AS he reached the extreme
southeast corner he saw flames shooting
from a window in the dressing room
Running to the main part of the building
the boy told his mother Of the fire. The
father, with the assistance of Arthur
other employees, succeeded in extinSuish.
ing the fire with large hose before seri.
GUS damage was done.
The dressing room in which the fire orr
ginated was occupied by Irye. He had
been In the place shortly before the fire
was discovered. and was performing on
the stage when he heard the cry. Hasten
ing to the dressing room he found several
suits of his clothing burned. On the
floor near the window was a quantity OF
burned straw.
1t was stated no straw had been In the
room and the finding of quantity Of II
on the floor. part of which had been
burned, leads to the belief that an in
cendiary is at work. The flames burned q
large part Of the floor and the inside OF
the dressing room. A small opening in
the side of the dressing room for q fire
hose is believed to have been used by the
f1rebug for placing the straw in the dress
ing room.
No Excitement Caused.
Not many spectators were in the air
dome when the fire was discovered. and
the flames were extinguished without
causing any excitement about the park
The first fire occurred last Sunday morn
ing about o'clock. While employees were
at work smoke was seen ascending In the
woods In the rear of the large dancing
pavilion. An investigation disclosed that
a fire had been started but g. short dis
lance from the pavilion. The fire had
burned much of the underbrush and was
gaining Roadway when It was discovered
About noon the same day a short dis
lance from the scene of the first hre an.
other fire was discovered. This. how
ever, appeared to have been burning fol
some time, as several acres Of land had
been burned over. and the blaze was fas,
advancing toward the dancing pavilion.
A fire alarm brought all the employees
and others at the park to the scene. With
brush and other articles, and by tho aid
Of bucket brigade, the flames were KEEP.
from spreading to the pavilion. and after
several hours work were finally extin-
guished.
When the fire occurred Tuesday night
the management decided that steps should
be taken to arrest the incendiary, and
conferred with the Alexandra county Of
f1cials.