East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1911-10-23
Family of Rev. F. J. Mines, Presbyterian Pastor,
Awaken Barely in Time to Avoid Death
PREACHERHUNTS WOULD-BE MURDERER WITHGUN
Flames Discovered Early Sunday Morning BY Young Son
of Family Who Gives AIarm-Neghbors Respond and
Extinqush Blaze With Little Damage

That a pyromaniac is operating in
Pendleton has been the belief of many
people for some time and an incen-
diary attempt made upon the house
occupied by Rev. Frank j. Mines,
pastor of the Presbyterian church,
early Sunday morning, strengthens
this belief. Only by the merest
chance was a disastrous conflagra-
ton prevented and as it was, large
hole was burned in the corner of the
pastors woodshed. which adjoins the
house.
About o'clock yesterday morning
the young son of Rev. Mines was
awakened by a cracking noise outside
his window and noticed a glare. He
called to his father and told him
there was a bonfire in the yard. Rev.
Mines arose and, upon investigation,
discovered that the corner of his
woUdshed was in flames and he has.
tily aroused the neighborhood Be-
lieving that some miscreant had start
ed the fire, the minister seized his
rifle and conducted a hurried search
but, failing to discover anyone in
the immediate vicinity of his house,
fastened back and began applying
water TO the fire.
He first attempted to use his gar
den hose but ice had formed in the
nozzle and he was forced to resort to
buckets, while the nozzle was thaw-
ing out. With the assistance of
neighbors, he soon extlnguished the
flames. but declares that the fire was
burning so freely and rapidly that
in another ten minutes it would have
gained such headway that his resi-
.deuce would have been doomed to de-
s,ruction.
Incendiary Evidences Found.
After the quenchlug Of the flames,
an investigation revealed the burnt
ends Of kindlngs which had un-
doubtedly been used in starting the
fire. The house is located on east
Court street and is owned by John
Grow, the well known farmer, but
neither the owner nor the occupant
can ascrlbe any reason for the at
tempt to injure them. Both declare
TO their knowledge they have no enc
mics and announce their belief that
some fiend with a mania for burning
was LtHpouSlDlG IuF the DldZe.
Other similar Attempts.
This is the third time within q year
that supposedly incendiary attempts
have been made in the block in which
the Crow house is situated.
Not many weeks ago a barn on an
adjoining lot was burned and about
q year ago a fire was discovered on
nearby promises with strong indica-
tions Of iuCendiary sm. Moreover. a
number of other fires and near-fires
in the last few weeks have been at
tended with very suspicious circum-
stances. Thursday night, the barn
of e. =. Averill was discovered afire
and the recent confllgration which
destroyed the Oregon Feed Yard and
the skating rink has never been ex-
planned, the general belief being that
il was set, About six weeks ago, it
will be remembered, a house on Will
low street owned by Mrs. Downey,
was discovered afire in the early
morning a quantity Of kerosene-soGk-
ed kindling being found under the
house.
There is no clew whatever to the
identity of the malicious person or
persons responsible for this chain OF
fires and the situation is growing so
bad that many residents are growing
uneasy.