Evening journal., 1922-12-02
BURN 18th barn,
CLUE AT LAST
2 Men Seen Running From
$4,000 Fire Near North
Brook, Chester Co.
AUTHORITIES
ON NEW TRAIL

The twenty-seventh in a series o.
barn burnings which have terrorizet
the farmers OF Chester and Della
ware Counties occurred last night
near North Brook in Chester coun
~. and gave the bafied authorize,
the first definite clue that incendia.
ries were applying the torch. Thl.
blaze came within twenty-four hour,
OF the twenty-sixth blaze at Frazer
fifteen miles away. early yesterday
The combined losses ION the two
fires IS $4,000. and in both instances
all stored crops. with farm equip
ments. were lost. and in the fire last
night twelve cows were killed.
The clue 20 incendlaries was given
by William Peterson, employed on
the farm OF Mrs. Charles f. II. Hall
who first saw the blaze and at the
moment OF discovery saw awo men
run out of the shadow OF the barn,
vault a fence into an orchard and
escape in the darkness. Neighbors
running 20 the fire reported they
saw an automobile with two mer
in II speeding in the opposite direc-
ton. They thought It strange. but
none noticed the license number OF
the car.
The excitement OF the Frazer fire
was still engaging the attention OF
Chester county farmers when the
alarm was raised shortly sser
o'clock last night for the Hall fire.
When Peterson saw the barn was
aflre he made no attempt TO pur-
sue the fleeing men, but called Mrs
Hall, her niece and employees on the
place. They started TO save the live
stock and got out twenty-five cows
before the rapid spread OF the flames
compelled them TO desist. A hun
dred tons OF ensilage. farm equip
ments, wagons and an automobile
were consumed and twelve COWS
were killed. The fire spread 20 the
pig pens, chicken houses and other
outbuildings before the fremen from
West Chester could get a stream on
the fire.
with the aid Of neighbors the fire
men pumped water from the Bran
dywine river on the burning build
ings for two hours. The house
caught fire several times. but the
flames were quickly quenched. All
the other buildings burned 20 the
ground and the loss Is $4,000. d.
yided between Mrs. Hall. a widow
and the Timmfns estate, owner OF
the property.
william Mullln. County Detective,
questioned the Halls. Peterson and
the neighbours, who saw the automo-
bile dashinig wildly toward Mar
.ialtown az they ran TO aid Mrs.
Hall He said It was the first direct
evidence he has obtained pointing
10 lncendiAries and he thought
better progress would be. made in
the battling investigation.
In the fire on the farm OF Harry
Thomas. near Frazer. the building,
chickenhouses and a garage were
consumed and the loss IL S12,50O /
on which an insurance OF $500 was
carried. Autom obi1ists on the lincoln
Highway discovered the fire and
helped the Thomases to save the
livestock and the house. Firemen /
went from EAuilt mdANSi II eAN B'A !
wyn. but they were limited IN their /
supply Of water TO a pond. That /
was pumped dry and the firehghters
could do nothing but save the house.
which was fred by blazing embers
several times.
No evidence OF incendiarism was
obtained at this fire and the authori-
ties. after careful investigation, con-
fessed themselves once more bafiied.
This was the twenty-sixth OF the
barn fires since last April. Since
September there have been nine in
Chester county and six in Delaware
county. Last nights blaze set the
total figure at twenty-seven and uD-
less somehing develops from the
clue OF the two men running away
In the automobile, the mystery may
to terrorize the farmers OF
the two counties.
cit Is the most mysterious thing
7 have ever encountered said Ma
Tor w. Butler windle. District At
tornev of Chester county; but the
number OF nres CON
vinces me that there is a quick
action torch-setter at work. the IN
surance companies have had their
men working with US for months
ana we have made no progress. The
fires happen every few days with
regularity.
The counties have posted rewards
of $1,000 each for information that
will lead to the arrest Of the in
cendiaries. The insurance compa-
MES nave added $1,000 and the Will
llstown Union Association an or
of $50 farmers has add
ed 500. With this to spur investiga- ,
ton 1t is the expectation OF the
authorities that the evidence re- ,
suIing from the Hall fire last night
viii start many persons on the trail.