New Britain herald., 1917-02-23

balanced man Of about nfty years,
 who gave his name as John Bonee
 of this city, was taken into custody
 at the Union station in Hartford early
 today by Policeman Hetzel of that
 city. Mumbling incoherently and un-
 able to give but meagre description
 of himself, he was taken to police
 headquarters and later transferred to
 the hospital connected with the Hart
 ford aims house. His explanation
 was that he walked from this city
 to Hartford last night in the bitter
 cold. Signs of exposure and much
 suffering were apparent. While there
 is believed to be no connection be-
 tween him and the series of fires, the
 authorities are leaving no loop hole
 escape investigation.
 At tonight's special session of the
 safety board tonight, it is believed
 that fire department equipment will
 receive much attention and there is
 liable to be immediate action along
 some lines. Additional hose is advo-
 cated by Chairman Babcock and it
 was today intimated that consid- erable amount will be bought at once
 Smoke masks and other equipment, the need of which was apparent Wednesday night, will also probably be given attention. Chief Rawlings will make recommendations for his department. It is expected that they will include provisions for three reg ular chauffeurs, eacr one to work on an eight-hour shift.
 Hartford May Be Gangs Base.
 A rumor has been prominently cur rent that three men were noted leav- ing the city in a high powered auto mobile, apparently headed for Hart ford. Whether the men answer the description of the three suspicious ones seen by MT. and Mrs. Hugh Reynolds near their Commercial street property Monday night has not been ascertained. Chief Rawlings is of the opinion that the person, or per sons, responsible came to the city and left by automobile. The authorities are inclined to believe that Hartford has been the base of operations There is also a belief that New Brit ain may not be again visited for a time but that the hand of the in cendlary gang will point in turn to other cities of the state
 It is indicated that the authorities are also working on the basis that it is the work of a mentally unbalanced person, although this theory Is not as generally accepted because the fires show too much evidence of having been planned with more than ordin- ary cunning. At the same time, a quiet investigation is being made of persons known to be mentally unbalanced and those who have had a weakess to- wards tampering with fire apparatus. The suggestion. has also been made that the mysterious material used re- sembles, in many ways. the ''liquid hre' used with deadly effect on Euro pean battlefelds.
 A theory has been advanced, al- though not as generally credited as some, that the ones responsible have been mentally unbalanced through family or property losses resulting from the war and are seeking 8 fan ,ied revenge for these losses or other l alleged grievances. There has been a l suspicion that the ones responsible 1 nay have had experience with the use If liquid fire'' in the trenches and 1 lave used this experience with deadly l fleet in their campaign of incendiar- l sm It is known that inquiry has been ] made in some circles relative to pres l ,nce of sympathizers with warning 1 countries in this section.
 The theory that the campaign may l ,e part of the propaganda decided 1 lpon by extreme pacifists in desper- l lte effort to avert threatened hostili- 1 ies with Germany and other Central 1 Powers is not taken seriously. Another heory expressed is that a band of fa- latics has decided to spread terror | ,mone. the general public and give an 1 nkling of what war would be. still mother theory is that it is a systemat- {! c and statewide attempt to spread !! among manufacturing 1 interests because of the monster filling\ ,f contracts for war muitions. 1t is l lot denied that much concern IS felt | ,mong the manufacturing interests of l he state, there have been many in l ,uiries from all parts of the east and | t is reported that added precautions l Ire being taken with guards doubled ]
 Much commendation is expressed ] elative to the work of companies E 1 md I of the First Connecticut Infan- " For more than thirty-six hours the 1 members of the companies did duty 1 lncom Dlainingly, some of the men go- 1 ng without sleep during this time and others catching only a little while | oiled up in their blankets. |
 Work was sta rted today in overhaul ng the partially burned automobiles 1 tt the Hatch building. It has not been determined as to how much can be salvaged. Policeman Dennis Nealon las been detailed for guard duty there.