The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1921-10-27
SABOTISTS WORK
AMONG THRESHERS
MATCHES PLACED IN GRAIN
SHEAVES SET FIRE TO
MACHINES
Two Machines Are Burned on Same
Job Near Moccasin; Individual
Who Was Under Suspicion Leaves
Country; On Another Farm, Rail-
road Spike Sent Through Machine.

Matches placed in a load of grain
sheaves and in stacks are blamed for
the burning of two separators and the
firing of a third in the last two weeks
in the Moccasin section. Usually sep
arator explosions and fires are due to
static electricity generated in the OPP
GRAFTON of the machines, but in this
case the presence of matches is de-
clared to have been established.
The first disaster occurred when a
separator was burned and on the
same job, a few days later, another
separator was set to work it met with
the same fate. Investigation revealed
that a great quantity of matches had
been placed in the bundles, but in
this case were confined to a single
load, which when the first machine
caught fire was piled on the ground
by and when the new machine
was put in operation everything went
smoothly until the same load of
bundles was hauled up to be thresh-
ed.
Sheriff Suspects Missing Man
In a nearby field of headed grain
a separator caught fire and investi-
revealed that matches again
had been the cause, but prompt ac-
ton by the crew saved the separator
with only slight damage. Matches
were found everywhere-stuck into
the stacks of loose headed grain and
~ tho rro,,oJ ryhoun +hox-
would most likely be stepped on and
set afire.
1t was first thought that the fires
had been caused by explosions of
smut, and for this reason an inyes-
tigation was not made until after the
fire, when it was discovered
that matches had been the cause.
Sheriff G. H. Kelley was notified of
the fact that matches had been plac-
ed in the grain and he spent some
time investigating and endeavoring
to unearth a clue to who was respon-
sible for the act. According to his
statement, an individual who has left
the county since is strongly under
suspicion and an endeavor is now be-
ing made to learn his whereabouts.
Spike Sent Through Machine
Threshermen in the vicinity of
Geyser have also been warned to
keep on the alert for desperate acts
of this nature. Last week a railroad
spoke was sent through the machine
operated by w. d. Billman and also
a big bolt was sent through the
Kempschneider machine. In the case
Of the Billman machine, considerable
damage was done the separator and
much expense entailed to put it in
working condition, but in the case
Of the Kempschneider machine, it
escaped with only several bent and
broken cylinder teeth and a broken
eoncave.
Southwest of Geyser, at the Maxi
a separator also had a narrow
from burning last week when
burst of flames from the blower set
ire to the straw stack. This fire
still of unknown origin and the
machine was saved only by promptly
it out of danger. The grain
1ere was free from smut.
May Not Get Threshed
The presence of matches at several
in the vicinity of Moccasin is
working a great hardship on farmers
Who still have grain to thresh. The
burning of two separators and firing
If a third has naturally caused the
hreshermen to be reluctant to oper-
tie in that vicinity. In the places
where matches have actually been
ound in bundles or stacks of headed
a complete, loss of their grain
nay result to owners, as it is stated
hat threshermen rerfuse to risk their
machines in the hazardous undertake
ng of threshing it out.