Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-19
Seven More Barns
Burned by Firebugs
Continued from Pare Ono

Continued from Pare Ono
further hearing pending the invcstiga-
ton.
The barn in West Chester was on
the grounds of the State Nor''1al School.
1t was of stone and frame construction
and stood on Roeedale avenue. between
Walnut and Matlack streets. The loss
is placed at $4,000. Three horses, n
COW. sixty hogs and 100 chickens were
saved by the firemen.
The property is occupied by John
Hollinger, steward at the Normal
School. Hollingcr says he is convinced
the barn was fred by incendiaries. lie
had made an inspection Of tho strIcture
half an hour before the blaze was dis
covered by q member Of his family.
The fire was started in n haymow
containing thirty tons Of hay. and with
! In fifteen minutes the huge barn was
| ricultural implements. wheat. corn.
| fodder. feed and other crops were
/ burned.
Hollinger told the police he was
awakened Monday night by noise IN
the barn. A member of his family who
: investigated says he saw two men run
from the barn as he approached. Hol. e..
! linger says there had been no fire or
lights used about the barn recently.
On Old Darlington Estate
The barn was the property Of thc
State, taken over ms q portion Of the
normal school tract two years ago. Tho
structure stood on what was for year,
the home of the late Thomns Darling
ton, who lived in n fine mansion now
occupied by Iiollnger. This house i,
but 100 feot from the barn, and tho
Nremen with difficulty succeeded il
saving it.
Like the Gulph Mills Golf Club fire
that at Perkiomcn Junction offered pos
tive evidence Of having been the wOrl
of inccndiaries. 1t occurred in the barr
on the farm of Barney Martin.
Mira. Martin was awakened by tn,
sound Of on automobile. Pecring out
the window she saw the machine dr!v.
ing away from the barn. Smoke was
coming from the barn doors. She awok,
her husband, who seized his shotgun
and ran into the yard. but the marhn,
and its occupants had disappeared.
The fire was started near the door
to the barn, so that rescue of livestock
was impossible. Three cows and fou,
horses were burned IN the barn. to-
gether with large quantities Of fecdstuif'
and crops stored there. The loss il
placed at $1,000.
The Phocnixville Fire Dorartmon
answered the alarm Of Martins : place
hut by the time it rra"hcd III" >"nn,
the barn had been completely destroyed
Catholic Farm Barn Burned
At the same hour that the Martin
FIRE was discovered, an alarm was re,
ceivcd from the st. Ignatius farm. con
Quoted by the Catholic Church or
Whitehall road, five miles from Norris
town. 1t Is believed that the iircbug
separated after the Gulph Mills Col
Club fire, ono remaining in Montgomcr,
County and the other going into Ches
ter County.
Nine cows were burned to death an,
other livestock narrowly escaped dur
ing the fire which destroyed the -
Ignatius barn. The fire was discoy
cred by Thomas J. Curlcy. supcrin
tcndcnt of the place, about fifteen MN
utes after he had made the rounds .
the buildings OF the institution. Curlr,
believes the fire was of inccndiary uri
gin.
Curlcy occupies 4 portion of n build
ing fnown as th" tenant house.
lie was just about to retire when h
noticed a great red glare. Then h
discovered the barn was burning scy
eral places. As m electric lightin
system Is used for Illuminating purpos 80
and there wns II" sign Of fire while h
was inspecting the building, Curlcy i
certain that some on" set it Ifirc
Several inmates Of the tenant hons
were quickly on the scene. and, assis e
by residents of nearby houses, attacke
the flames from all angles. Several O
the frefighters assisted in saving horses
two automobiles and some Of the cows
The administration building Of the in
stitution is close to the building, but
was saved by the fact that south
eastern wind w2& blowing and carrie
the flames clear Of the other structures
Fire companies from nearby town
responded, but the fire had gained sue
hcadway hat tho barn could not b
saved The loss WAS $4,000.
A quick search Of the surroundin
countryside was made. bur no trace u
suspicious persons was found.
Armed Guards for Barns
Renewed activity of the firebug
within the last twcek. despite roa
pntrols maintained In Chester. D.ln
ware and Mont omcry Counties b.
State police. has led to renewed effort
on the part Of farmers to protect thci
property.
1t the Dclchcster Farms, near Now
town square. an armed guard Of thirt
men stands watch NJ the four barn
from @ Il. NJ. to daylight.
Delchester Farms are owned by Dr.
Thomas G. Ashton, OF Wynnewood,
On the estate Of Isaac IL. Clothic,
, at Rosemont, the barn is being guarde
by four men with orders TO shoot frs
and investigate later in case prowlcr
are seen. One man is stationed on cac
Of the four sides of the structure s
that nm approach to it without helm
discovered is considered Impossible,
: Hundreds of other farmers through
out the three counties have taken sim
liar precautions and either stand wntc
themselves or employ others for tha
purpose.