Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-01-20

The fire in the Forney building was
started in the basement toilets.
Find Oil Cans
Discoveries made shortly before
noon to-day, further substantiates the
theory that the fires were the work
of an incendiary. At the Shimmell
building cans of furniture and black
board oils were missed. Three of the
cans. empty. We're found near where
the fire started. A search is being
made for the third can in the vicinity
of the Vernon and Forney buildings.
1t is the belief the oil was poured over
the wood.
At the Forney building, water con-
nections leading to the fire service
pipes running through the building
were cut off.
Begin Investigation
Nlllam l. windsor, superintendent
OF the Bureau of Detectives, and John
e. Kinder. fire chief. began an early
investigation to learn. if possible, who
set the three buildings afire
A. carson Stamm, president of the
school Board, called a meeting of the
board for $40 this afternoon. when
provisions We're made to take care of
the pupils from the Vernon and Shin
nell buildings. Plans for the imme-
date reconstruction of the Vernon
building and for repairs to the other
TWO were also considered by the
board of directors.
State Expert says Eirebug
W. j. Lloyd, the States new fire pre-
Venuon expert. who has made a spe-
ciaity of Investigations. to-day declared
that he had found ''indisputabIe evil
dence of incendiarism" at the school
buildings and in addition that entrance
had been forced into the Forney
building by the firebug
Mr.. Lloyd's investigations. which
were the first he has made for the
state, were thorough. He came here
a day or so ago fresh from a series
or Investigations in his home CITY OF
pittsburgh and being thoroughly fam.
liar with school house construction
was detailed at 4 a. m. to-day to .get
BUSY. In company with NJ. p. Fred
erlcks. factory inspector for this dis.
trlct, who had inspected the buildings
tor the State in its survey last Fall. he
went into things carefully and reported
to Lew r. Palmer. chief factory in,
spector' this morning that there were
abundant evidence of incendiarisn,
Telephone Wires Cut?
In addition to telling of the discov.
cries Mr.. Lloyd reported that he hat
found four residences near the Forney
building where telephones were out OF
conhdent that they had been tamper.
| ed with. This was regarded as mos
serious in the chain of DEVELOPMENT.
ana the facts will he communicated tt
the State Fire Marshal and the city
police.
The tirebug, said Mr.. Lloyd, pickeC
out the very worst places for a fire tC
start. In the cases of the Vernon anC
Shimmell buildings the fire was start
ed among the fuel supply in addition.
to the buildings. Undoubtedly tht
treproof construction of the Shimmel
building prevented very serious loss
Inc three empty oil cans were report
ed on by Mr.. Lloyd.
y Trail of Matches
In his Investigations at the Fornel
building Mr. Lloyd found a eratinl
forced and burned matches about tn,
! spaces where the man had gained ac
cess to the building. a trail of burn
| ed matches was found in the base
ment
! What makes the Forney condition
very serious was that the fire haC
lsmouldered and that the janitor wa
starting to prepare for the days ses
sions when he discovered the flames
/ In few more hours the buiIdin,
would have been occupied by children
The report of Mr.. Lloyd will b,
given to the proper authorities and h,
partment of Labor and Industry a.
much as possible and give the benefi
| of his experience.
State Had Acted
| In connection with the fire investi
cations this morning it was Learned
CONTINUED on Page 81