Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-08
Police Profess to Know Man
Causing Small Fires.
BUT WON'T MAKE ARREST
Waiting Until They Catch Him Red
Handed. Is Excuse.
MYSTERIOUS BLAZE TODAY
Residents Of East Capitol Street
Thrown Into Panic by Fire
in Rear Of No 9O8.

Ahead Of the fire department awaiting
Its arrival and watching its endeavors TO
put out fire and save property, is a man
who is suspected Of having started many
damaging fires that are keeping in
perpetual condition of terror dwellers in
sections of Northeast and Southeast
washington which have been troubled by
MS activities for several months past
Inc man is of unsound mind He is
known TO the police and to the fire de-
partment. and Is suspected of the out
RACES But the police are waiting to
catch him red-handed in the very act OF
starting a blaze
Meanwhile details of policemen patrol
the neighborhoods in plain clothes watch
ing Tor him. So far he has successfully
eluded detection.
Shopkeepers and householders in the
vlcinities are aware of the suspicious Of
the police. and know against whom they
are directed. They are all in a state OF
ioment. merchants not knowing whether
morning. and residents fearing to wake
up in the night to find their homes
ablaze.
Now Started Before Daylight.
In the beginning. these incendiary fires,
attributed to the diabolic energies of one
man. were started in the early evening
Recently they have been occurring in the
early morning hours, when Washington
was asleep. The greater danger Of loss Of
life by fire at the earlier hour has struck
terror to dwellers in the neighborhood.
This information regarding an indi-
vidual suspected of being frebug is
given by an official of the fire department
He declares that he is certain that the
man who is under surveillance is the
guilty man. He insists on the futility of
making an arrest before the evidence 10
positive against the firebug
That residents are terrorized was dem
onstrated this morning. when fire &C.
CURED in the rear of 90S East Capitol
street. Every house in the vicinity was
emptied Of its inmates. Those first up
and dressed went to the homes Of their
neighbors. beating on the doors to awaken
Them and urging them to get out into the
open.
The shed in the rear of I. s. WecAham's
home. No. 9O6 East Capitol street. which
is but twenty feet from the frame house.
was almost totally destroyed before the
f1remen arrived. The flames had gained
considerable Roadway. Had q high wind
would have taken fire, it is said.
The flames were discovered shortly
after o'clock by a neighbor. Downing
shirt and trousers this neighbor ran
barefooted to 18th and East Capitol
streets and sounded an alarm.
Nos. 8, 10 and 10 engine companies
and No. truck company responded
Battalion Chief Proctor was among the
first arrivals at the scene.
Several lines of hose were run to the
place. Within short time the flames
had been extinguished. but not before
the shed in the rear Of go. owned by
w. P. Burch. also had been damaged.
Fire Marshal Investigating.
Battalion Chief Proctor reported to Fire
Marshal Nicholson today suspicious cir
cumstances connected with the fire. The
fire marshal is investigating
Reports have been made to the fire de-
partment IF a negro seen running awav
from the scenes Of mysterious fires short
ly before they have been discovered The
officials, however. are Of the opinion that
this is A mistake.
The shed Of W. P. Burch. which was
damaged today, was also ablaze the MORN
ing of February IL. The fire department
considers that circumstances connected
with that fire point toward an incendiary
The fire department was called to the
Embarrassing establishment of H. E. Bor-
den, 1O4 18th street northwest, shortly
after 8 O'clock today. The damage
amounted to ahOl1f &