The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-03-30
ANOTHER FIRE SET
BYA AN |NCEND|ARY
Attempt Is Made t. Burn the Barn OF
j. l.. Jarvis, E the Blaze Is
Discovere n Time.
WEI WEATHER N aSTOP THE CRIME
It Is Believed Ths E,e Rain and Snow
Will Prevent 5sher Attempts
At Bur :, Barns.

At Bur s, Barns.
O.
The fourth fire of mysterious origin
during the week called the depart
ment TO the home of County Commits
81 ner ]. l.. Jarvis on Saturday eve
ming at $40, at about the same hour
as the previous fires. The blaze was at
the barn on the premises but by the
time the fire boys we're on the ground
the n%eighbors, with a bucket brigade,
had eXtinguished the flames.
There is no doubt that the fire was
of ~incendiary origin, as undoubtedly
were the other three fires f last week
with the possible exception of the
Louis Johnson fire. The fire was
started in a small pile of hay
in the alley. but soon after 1T sprang
into a blaze it was discovered by l..
p. Johnson, a neighbor, whose father
suffered the loss of his barn a few
days previous. Mr.. johnson immed-
lately gave the alarm and with the
help of a few neighbors succeeded in
putting the fire out. There is very
little doubt but that it would have
been allowed to get a start. An ex
animation of the pile of hay where
the flames we're first seen showed that
the hay had been scraped together
with the hands and small pieces Of
wood had been placed upon it. The
whole mass was then piled against
the barn at the southwest corner,
probably in the hope that the strong
wind from that direction would aid in
the destruction Of the barn. Those
who arrived first on the scene and
assisted in putting out the fire claim
that they could plainly distinguish the
odor of burning kerosene, which was
sprinkled on the hay and up the side
of the barn.
This fire removes all doubt about
the origin of the fires of last week.
IL 10 this time many citizens were
disinclined to believe that we had an
~incendiary in the community, but the
blaze of Saturday night leaves no fur
Their room for doubt. We have an in
endiary here, but what his object may
be is unknown. All three of the barn
fires happened in the same neiGhbor-
hood. within a couple Of blocks of
each other, and all occurred between
the hours of eight and nine o'clock in
the evening, and each n of them was
set from the alley at a point where
they would be famed by the high
winds Of last week.
The object of setting the fires is
not known, as they apparently nave
not been used as means of covering
up robberies. as has been rumor d,
neither could it be a case of personal
grudge in all the cases, so the only
logical conclusion is that they were
started by someone slightly dernented
or with a mania for setting fires. No
matter what his object is it is dan
gerous to have such a maj running
loose and it is up to the city officials
to capture him, no matter what the
cost. His next attempt may result in
a loss of life and he should be run
down if it is necessary to deputlZe
half the male citizens IN town.
The wet weather since Saturday
night may put an end to the fires, as
the frebug will find it hard work
starting a blaze except in the interior
of a barn, and he is probably too
cowardly to risk being caught. TWO
women living in the n~eiGhborhood OF
the Jarvis home saw a mar dodge
down the alley in II rear of the Narn
a few minutes before the fire was dis
covered. 1t looks as though it we're up
to the residents of that section TO
unlimber their "trusty weapons and
give a warn reception to anyone seen
1rrkino around the alleys.