The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-05
Burglar Tries to Burn
Building to Cover the
Theft of Box Contain
ing 100 Quarters
SCATTERS OIL
IN TWO ROOMS
Victim. Awakened by Smoke, TrieA> In
Vain to Batter Way Through En-
trance Blocked by Curtain Pole
Flames in Two Places Conquered

Awakened by smelling smoke in the
second story of his dwelling, I4o South
Front street, Steelton, nj 11.4o o clock
last night, Peter Ostoic, employed as
a driver by f. G. Irwin. of the bottling
works, Front and Walnut streets, that
borough, jumped out of bed and went
to investigate. Finding no flames in the
second story, he went 10 the first floor
and learned that the dining room door
had been barred against his entrance.
Going back to the second floor, he
climbed ont on the front porch roof
and by means of the porch posts reach
ell the ground safety. He was aptired
only in his night clothes.
BY this time several neighbors had
appeared on the scene and the outside
kitchen door was forced in. When this
door was opened thick volumes of smoke
rolled out and 0stoic hurriedly ran to
box IL and sent in an alarm, bringing
out the fire engines
While 0stoie was sending in the
alarm bucket brigade was formed with
such success that before the fremen
arrived the flames had been conquered
An investigation made by Fire Chief
Shoop, however. showed that the entire
first floor had been saturated with oil
and gasoline and thSt two blazes had
been started, one OF wicker rocking
chair in the parlor on which had been
piled curtains which had been torn
from their fastenings. These curtains
and the chair were entirely consumed.
Curtain Pole Bars Door
In the dining room a large pile of
papers on the table also had been set
on IRE, but only the edges of the pa
pers had been charred. All furniture
and clothing on the first floor had been
disarranged and piled up in disorder.
A basket standing in the kitchen filed
with clothes had been emptied and
the contents strewn over the dining
room and parlor floors. There were
practically all destroyed.
The pole from which the curtains
had been suspended had been taken down
and placed across the frame Of the door
which Ostoic had tried in vain to open.
1t was fastened in pdace with the cur
tain ropes which prevented any one en-
tering the dining room from the inside
OF the building.
ostoie, in explaining to Squire Gard
ner this morning how the firebug had
gained entrance to the first floor. stated
that q stepladder, which he kept on the
rear porch had been used by some one
10 reach transom over the kitchen
door. through which entrance was made.
He added that he had kept a fve-gallon
can filed with OH and two gallon can
hlled with gasoline. on the same porch.
the contents of witch were used by the
intruder after effecting an entrance.
Robbed Once Before
Ostoie added that a box containing
more than 100 silver quarters had been
taken by the frebug. The Steelton au-
thorites believe the house was set on
hre by burglar TO cover tn. theft of
the money. 1t is supposed the thief
expected to find larger amount than
ne got.
The building was not damaged by
the flames. Several chairs were con-
sumed, and holes burned in the carpets.
About one month ago Ostoic reported
a theft at his home. A robber forced
an entrance and stole a pair of TROUSERS
containing his poeketbook and watch.