The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-02

The entire city In under the EuarA
of $500 sailors ana marines from tho
Norfoiy navy yard.
Tonight nfteen persons. suspected
of completely in q plot to destroy tho
city. which has become one Of tie
most Important seapcrts along tho
coast since the war began. wsr~ being
examined by agents Of thu dspaxtrnAnk
OF Justice.
The federal authorities havs sstab-
lished special Offices for tie exAmina-
ton Of all persons who can throw any
light on the origin of the connagra-
ton 9scret service operatives. rushed
here from Warrington and other quar-.
ters. are fsrreting out Ill possible
clues. and rounding mp all suspicicus
characters.
Fire Chief Mclaughlin expressed
belief tonight that q gang of firsbugs,
working under directions. were g
work throughout the entire day. start
Ing up fresh nres whenever tie nro
department appeared to b making
headway. He declared the gang 70
be the best Organised he had svse
run across In twenty i've yea<s' e.
perience.
Crowds Kept on strcees.
AT dusk tonight Chief Of Police
Kizer and Adtutant l. Walker Trux-
ton. commander Of the Norfolk home
guard. acting under orders from MAJ
or wyndham II. Mayo. closed al thu
theaters. moving picture pariors. bil-
lard rooms and all other places whore
crowds are accustomed to congrsgn&s.
All persons not holding special passes
were ordered from the streets 1t d
o'clock.
Both Hugo Schmidt and n. X. Las
sig, the hrst suspects arrested. have
been turned over to the federal gu~
thorfttes and are being held In 1ail
here.
Schmidt was caught In the stora
room of the Ledger Dispatch. an -
ternoon newspaper. and claimed to -
an empioye OF the department Of 3ue-
the department OF juseics. was sum-
monsd he stated ne had never sean
Schmidt before. 3
Fifteen hundred sailors and soidisee
, from tho navy yard, Hampton Roads
base. and the naval training STATEN
/ are now guarding the city. assisted ~
500 members of the Norfolk home
guard.
! There Is general conviction that thos
fire4 are the result Of q widespread
German plot to destroy the city.
Explosions When Fro Starts.
| Two distinct explosions hsrald0d
1 Ah~ hra~ NJ nsxt - 90 tvx So
buildings which were the first to ~
isnited at an early hNur this morning.
The first explosion was ut $40 o'ulo0k
In the store occupied by Madame 0uxs
tons millinery establishment. TIT
business was on the ground fio0r ~
the building owned by the Dixon eo~
tate and which covered thrss-fouxt3a
OF an entire block. the rsst Of xAeI
block being occupied by the MonA&e
cello hotel. Norfoik's isadins hoeksluys
| Al T:iS . second and much l0uA1K
/ explosion startled the nrsmsn 81 woyk
on the first building just below allIo
flames Immediately burst from thS toN
floor and sides Of the hotel. Euetu%
nately the guests haA already tee1s
aroused By the flames on the 49,
cent building. ana III had drsseed oxl4S
lwere prepared to leAve the buiidinG.
I FLAMES quickly eprnad Al0n9 e0f
entire block on the eAst a1Ae of 0Ko&3
by street. and the stores occupied v
Madame Sutton. the N0rf0lk
i tionery store. Th0mAT DhO4 a4oE4s GXX
i Amos Hrownlee and HoE4A41o III
Goods stors wero completely ~ S2|
A. 1880. when the 0s0t ~
psared under control furth
Il plostons occsrred a. -
i ar. m 0HA4hQ GEx4l z
i nxassa - ~ r{R9ne - 49, -