Smyrna times., 1917-09-26
ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS FIRE
OCCURS NEAR BRENFORO
ON FARM OF MRS. N. r. WILDS
TENANTED BY CHAS, BUCKSON

Barn and Stables Wiped Out by Disas-
trous Fire Saturday Night Entailing
Loss of $4,000 to $4,000
AS a climax to series of fendish
acts committed during the past few
months on the farm of Mrs. Nathaniel
Wilds, of Smyrna. situated abont
half mile from Brenford, tenanted by
Charles Buckson, son of Levy Court
Commissioner James A. Buckson, of
New Castle county, fire about z
O'Clock Saturday night destroyed the
horse stable. hay barrack, cow stable,
cow sheds, fences, a large quantity of
manure, about 80 tons of cowpeas and
millet hay and possibly one horse that
is missing. There is every indication
that the building were fired by some
fiend, who for unknown reasons holds
grudge against the young farmer.
Previously four of his cows were
poisoned, a valuable horse partly
mutilated and the barnyard we'll water
poisoned by throwing large number
of dead rats into the well. The COM
munity is greatly alarmed over the
continued acts of violence to the prop
erty of the young farmer. The fact
that Mr.. Buckson has no enemies, as
far as he knows, leads to the belief
that it is the work nf an insane per-
son. An investigation is being made
by State and county officials. The
blaze Saturday evening started in the
hay loft on the side towards Brenford.
1t is understood that the buildings de-
stroyed were insured, but Mr.. Buck
son carried no insurance on their con-
tents. His live stock with the excep-
ticn of the horse missing and most of
his farming implements were saved.
The loss on the buildings was prob-
ably between So, 900 and $4,000.
Smyrna Fire Engine Goes to the Scene
The blaze could be seen from
Smyrna, Clayton and Cheswold and
for many miles in other directions.
Scores of automobiles rushed to the
scene filled with persons eager to
help. An appeal was sent TO the Cit
izens' Hose Company of Smyrna,
which company rushed its chemical tC
the farm, and it, with persons already
there, succeeded in saving several OF
the buildings near the burning struc-
ture. Buckson, an ambitious young
farmer, struggling for a fOothold ir
the farming community, moved to the
farm last March. He claims if he
has an enemy ne does not know it. A:
, stated, the State and county official:
, are making an investigation, anC
! every effort will be made to run dOwl
the fiend. 1t is a striking coincidence
that the farm occupied by Mr.. Buck
, son is within sight Of the Seversol
. farm which was the scene within tn
. past three or four years of three in
cendiary fres After the third o
these fires an investigation revealet
that all Of them had been started by
!, young negress who confessed that sh,
liked to see fires and that she ha
started them for the fun of seeinI
8 the buildings burn. That youthful
pyomaniac was sent to an institutio
where she could be restrained fror
! indulging in her expensive pastime.
Buckson Collapsed Over Hard Luck
II In the Buckson case, however,
goes much further than pyromania g
Il the poisoning of the cows and mutils
Il tion of the horse shows. Mr.. Buck
! son was worried so over the fact ths
|, some one is trying to ruin him, h
has become almost a nervous wreck
e and after the first rush to save tn
m buildings he collapsed and was led
5. the house where he spent the tim
t, sobbing and bemoaning his long trai
IN of i'll luck due to the fiend who
'. apparently determined to ruin him
y His young wife with several of he
1T many friends. spent the evening try
g ing to comfort him.