Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-11-02
GERMAN |NCEND|AR|ES
BLAMED FOR BLAZE;
SUSPECT IS ARRESTED
Three Dead, 26 Missing After
Burning of Steamship and
Warehouses on Baltimore
Water Front

BALTIMORE. oct. 31.-Chief Gunner
Brownley and two sailors of the British
steamer Kerry Range are known to be
dead and twenty-siX sailors and en-
plOyes on the piers of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad which were wrecked by
fire are missing. 1t is believed that some
of thees made their escape and the
number of dead probably will not be
definitely established today, but officials
of the railroad are convinced that more
than fifteen persons lost their lives when
the big piers burned.
That the fire was of incendiary origin
has been established beyond a doubt, and
one suspect has been arrested and turn
ed over TO the United States authorities.
He is John Waterman, said to have been
seen running away from the pier a few
moments before the blaze. The federal
authorities expect several other arrests
this afternoon.
All doubt as to the origin of the fire
was removed by statements from the
Baltimore and Ohfo's guards and fire.
men stationed at the pier. A few sec
onds before the flames broke out in
FIVE sections of the pier these men saw
what appeared to be rockets going up
from half a dozen places on the pier.
These were followed by muffied eX-
blossoms and the flames came imme-
diately Less than five minutes before
the entire structure was in flames the
the pier.
ohicials of the Baltimore and Ohio
this morning fixed the loss at $5,00O,-
OOO This is covered partly by the
railroads replacement fund and policies
with insurance companies.
Declarations that the fire was of in
cendiary origin. probably Started by
German spies, were made by secret serv-
ice men and the police. Huge quantities
Of American munitions were destroyed.
While secret service operatives this
morning were pushing their probe into
the disastrous blaze that last night and
early today destroyed vast quantities OF
grain and munitions of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad piers at Locust Point,
another blaze broke out in the Baltimore
and Ohio shops at Riverside Park, about
, mile from the scene of the first blaze.
The blaze this morning was promptly
checked.
Latest estimates place the loss in ex-
cess of $5.000,0O0.
vice President J. NJ Davis, of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, said it
was the belief of the railroad officials
that the blaze was of incendiary origin.
as credible witnesses stated that they
saw flames leap from piers and at
five points almost simultaneously.
The total loss will be over $4,000. 900.
OF this, which is said to be a conserva-
tive estimate, the piers represented a
value of $1,000, 900, the goods stored on
them $4,000, 900, and the steamer and
cargo 100000.
The steamer. which locked yesterday
afternoon, had on board eighty anti
submarine shells from a British port.
These exploded with loud reports when
the ship took fire. The ship was scut-
after the ship had been towed into mid
tied and sunk.
Chief of Police Leigh, of the Balti-
more and Ohio, began an investigation
Immediately of the report of the pier
Uatchman that he saw five or six men
iump from pier 8 just as the flames
broke out. The piers have been under
ARMED guards for a number of months.
Several months ago a quantity of
dvnamite was found in a loaded graiT'
car in one of the elevators of the rail-
road at Locust Point. The grain was
intended for one of the allies. The car
was traced to it's loading point in the
central west and found to have been
loaded by Austrian stevedores
pier 10, loaded with wheat for ex-
nort was in danger of being burned
early today, and only a fire wall stood
between the fire and this pier and Two
Others. Baltimore and Ohio officials
felt confident of saving these piers.
A number of department of justice
operatives were reported to be on the
scene several hours after the fire was
discovred.
The customs house authorities saved
! their records on pier s. but those on
ME- O vvara destrnyed