People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1892 — AFRAID OF FIREBUGS. [ARTICLE]

AFRAID OF FIREBUGS.

Milwaukee la a Paatc Over the Large Xombw of Secant Big Firea _ Belief That Incendiarlee Are at Work Two Tanneries and Big Street Car Barns Comprise the Latest Losses—Two Firemen Meet Death. Milwaukee, Dec. 28.—An incendiary fired one of tbe wooden additions of the tannery of the Becker Leather company on Commerce street at fi a. m. Tuesday. The flames spread to the tannery of Conrad Brothers, adjoining, and that establishment was entirely destroyed. The main building of the Becker plant was saved. A pipeman named Thomas Sullivan was killed by a falling wall, and George Rickmann of the fire patrol was suffocated in the Conrad tannery. Jnlius Huebner, a fireman, had his back broken, and other firemen were slightly hurt Tbe loss by the fire will foot up $225,000, of which SIOO,OOO is on the Becker tannery and $125,000 on that of Conrad Brothers. The property was well insured. Milwaukee, Dec. 28.—The street car barns and electric plant of the Villard line were totally destroyed this morning between 1 and 2 o’clock. The loss will approximate $300,000. Many horses and cars were burned.

Milwaukee, Dec. 28.—There is a gen- ' nine firebug scare in this city, and what ! is more there seems to be good grounds for alarm. Conservative citizens are now thoroughly alarmed and steps are T being taken to guard against further '■ loss by fire as much as possible. That incendiaries are at work in this city is no longer doubted by any one conversant with the circumstances surround- , ing many of the recent fires. Another fact that is now attracting, attention is that all the fires of mys- ! terious origin have occurred* when the weather was best suited to their j spreading. On rainy days or when the weather was mild and no wind blow- ! ing there have been no fires, excepting those where the origin could be clearly i traced. Another curious feature is that 50 per cent, of these big fires have occurred in the Third ward. So large have been the losses and so apparent has it become that incen- ! diaries are at work that insurance men are becoming alarmed, and a number of outside companies have ordered their local agents to take no more insurance here, and in several cases have ordered them to cancel many of their ; risks. Property owners and business ; men are alarmed and a mass meeting will be called to consider the matter. John P. McGregor, vice president of ’ the Northwestern National Insurance ; company, said his company would at once reduce its risks in this city pro- ! vided there were any more mysterious ’ fires. Fifteen special agents, repre- I senting a large number of outside com- : panies, arrived here Tuesday for the purpose of making an inquiry into the i origin of the many fires. Others are expected. At the meeting of the common council late Tuesday afternoon a resolution was passed requesting the municipal court to call a grand jury for the purpose of making an investigation into the causes of the many recent fires. An extra force of watchmen has been engaged to watch the business district and nearly all the big down-town establishments have employes on guard in them. There is a very bitter feeling in the city, and threats of lynching the criminals, should they be discovered, are freely made by meh who are usually temperate in their language.