Evening journal., 1917-09-24
FIFHD TRIES TO
RUIN YOUNG kent
COUNTY FARMER
lContInucd From FIrst page. )

ing and most Of his farming imple-
ments we're saved The loss on the
buildings was probably between s2.-
600 and $1,000.
The blaze could be seen from
Smyrna Clayton and Cheswold, and
for many miles in other directions.
Scores OF au omobiles rushed 10 the
scene filed with persons eager to
help. An appeal was sent to the
Citizens Hose Company AZ Smyrna,
which company rushed its chemical
10 the farm, and 4, with persons al
ready there. succeeded In saving sew
eral Of the buildings near the burning
structure. The farm is one OF the
largest and best in hat seclon OF
Kent county.
struggling for a foothold in the farm
Ing community, moved 10 the farm
las. March. The outgoing tenant,
having put In the wheat last fall, re-
turned and harvested Il In June, 30
that Buekson had no wheat crop 'his
year. We also had no hay and other
feed for his nine head OF horses and
large herd OF cows. and was COM
PEELED to buy about $500 worth OF
feed to see hinI through until he
could harvest iis crop OF COW peas
and millet,
Taking altogether n had been a
very hard Struggle for tho young
farmer, but he made It and had just
put into the hay barricks and horse
stable between 90 and 30 tons Of the
hay, and was congratuia'ing himself
tha. he was amply provided for the
winter and spring feeding when fire
destroyed It all except one wagon
load OF the hay still in the field.
A series OF dastardly blows against
young Buckson preceding tho fire
showed that some one resented his
occupancy OF tho farm and residence In
the neighborhood. Several weeks efter
he moved there last March two Of hls
COWS were poisoned. He had just got
ton over the shock OF his loss when the
nolsoner destroyed two more COWS
Some time subsequently ho noticed that
the water In the bsrnyard we'll was
bad. and an Investigation revealed that
his enemy had dumped number Of
dead rats into the well, thereby pol
sonlng the water, which both ms
horses and cows would drink, anc
which water was also often used ny
the farm help. The well was cleaned
out and Buckson was hopeful that tha'
would end his troubles.
In June, however, he went 70 th'
stable one morning and discovered ina
his enemy had tied the head or on'
OF his best horses up 20 the rafters u
prevent Il kicking and then had Gu
its tail of close to the rump. AM
horse had almost bled to death wheI
found but by careful attention us lii'
was saved. Twice recently when BUCK
son went TO his barn at night he ma
heard someone rush out the back wal
ard scurry across the fields.
There was rumor that the hen'
had left a note on the pump box re
Gently warning Buckson that unless ~
moved nut OF the neighbornooo n
would be burned out. MI. BuoAs9u
vben asked about that phase OF ul
trouble while the are was IN prosres
saturday night, denied that ne hsu re
celved any such note, but attribute
the fre 10 the unknown enemy WI
Rad done so many other fendlsh INNS
Acted n ne had the least idea as !
the identity OF the flend, Mt. Buchso
said. mot The least in the world. II
nave an enemy on earth, / don't Ano'
"Hsve YOU discharged any help o
anvthing Of that kind2' ne was asAeu
s;Not man OF woman no replied
Wy1ja have the same help today W
bsd when we came on the farm. ana
have had no trouble Of any klna VIII
an is stated. the state and county OF
c,als are making an Investigation, an
every effort will be made to run 40"
''T II W is striking coincident that IN
farm occupied by Mr.. Buckson
,,i,bin sight OF the Serverson farI
which was the scene within the pas
three or four years Of three inceI
diary ares. After the third OF thes
lres an investigation revealed th'
ali NJ them had been started Dy
vounr Negress who confessed that sh
iise N see fires and that she ma
started them for the fun OF seeing III
buildings burn. That youthful pyr'
mantle was sent to an instltutiu
vvhero she could be restrained trol
indulging in her expensive pasttlme'
In the Buckson case, however
goes much further than pyromania
Inc poisoning Of the cows and mutll
ton of the horse shows. MIR. buel
son was worried so over the fact IN
some one is trying to ruin him. !
has become almost a nervous wTec
and after the frst rush To save u
buildings he collapsed and was ID
TO the house where he spent the TN
sobbing and bemoaning his lons ira
ofill luck due to the ilend who IS appa
eatly determined TO ruin him. II
young wife with several Of her MAJ
friends, spent the evening trying
rnmfnrt him