The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-01-31
BIC FIRE RACES
IN JERSEY CITY
SEVEN U. S. WAREHOUSE AND
GREAT DOCKS DESTROYED.
GERMAN PLOT IS SUSPECTED
Two Men Arrested On Suspicion.
Shots Fired to Keep Crowd Back
Starts Rumor Of Mob Violence
British Liner AfiTe.

New York, Jan. 26.-Seven United
States Depot Quartermaster Ware
houses and one and a half miles of
municipal docks in Newark, N. J. were
destroyed by fire today. The ware
houses destroyed were empty.
A Newark fire boat saved the
plant of the Submarine Boat Corpor-
alton working on government ship con-
tracts from the flames.
Twenty-Five secret service men
were rushed to the scene of the fire
for the purpose of rounding up the
spies who are believed to be respon-
sible for the fire.
Started in Oil Barges
The fire started in the oil barges
which were moored in the wharves.
Several of the barges were burned
There are many rumors being cir
culated to the effect that several spies
have been shot. The quartermaster's
ware houses were in the course of
construction. A large number of docks
lined the Newark ship canal.
Two men were arrested near the fire
were sent to the district attorneys Of
flee for examination.
Shots Give Sensational Touch.
The sounds Of shots fired by the
soldiers into the air to keep back the
crowds gave rise to the report of a
battle between u. S. troops and enc
my agents.
The submarine plant seemed doom
ed until two New York firemen finally
broke large holes in the ice and sue
ceeded in checking the conflagration.
Dynamite was used.
British Liner Afre.
An Atlantic Port, Jan. 26.-Fire |
broke out here early today on the hold |
of large British liner. The fire was |
to a forward hold where oil |
was stored. Reports of spy plot were
The fire it was said was
gotten under control shortly after it
was discovered.
Suspicious Fires in Baltimore.
Baltimore, Jan. 90 The ship
building plant of the Henry Smith G
Sons company at Curtis bay was
fired last night about the same time
that the Oello Woolen mills in Balti- |
more county, near Endicott City, were
burned.
Both concerns were engaged upon !
government contracts. The loss to
the shipbuilding company is estimat-
ed at 100000; the loss to the mill j
about 100000. At the shipbuilding
plant two watchmen fired upon sup
posed incendiary, who leaped into
the water and was probably drowned. |
Buffalo Also Visited
Buffalo, Jan. 26-Fire of suspicious
origin today destroyed the plant Of
he Westinghouse Electric and Manu-
'acture Company plant which has been
working on government orders day
and night.
The loss is estimated at two hundr-
ed thousand dollars.
President Warned of Plot.
Washington, Jan. ga mysterious
letter warning President Wilson of
a nationwide plot to destroy docks
and war plants is being used in con-
nection with the investigation of the
disastrous fires which have broken
out at different points today.
The letter in question stated that
the plot was to go into effect January
%. Whether the spies were fore
warned of their tasks is unknown but
it is known that the plots did not bear
fruit on the date originally set.
The fact that big fires broke out
today almost simultaneously at
Newark, Baltimore and Buffalo, de-
stroying hundreds of thousands of
dollars in property leads officials to
strongly believe that there is a.
movement on foot by the enemy to
destroy all Of the American war
plants.
Still Another Myterious Blaze.
Baltimore, Jan. 90 The British
steamship Deep Water laden with
grain, mysteriously caught fire this
afternoon. She was moved to mid
stream and fireboats and tugs were
called to her assistance to help ex-
tinguish the blaze.