Show THE REEF INCENDIARY Particulars of the Fiendish Scheme SILVER EEEF June 15th 1881 Editors Herald Yesterday evening a large excitement excite-ment existed from the discovery of a contemplated burning of the town Mr Greenbaum a merchant here is this morning before a magistrate on a charge of being principal in a conspiracy con-spiracy to burn his store which is situated in the midst of a dense block on the east side of Main street Hundreds visited the scene last evening and saw in a narrow place between Greenbaums store and that of Wolf Jordan about three feet wide a large pile of fine cedar wood and bark a box filled with wood fiber such as is used in packing and in this a candle stood ready for lighting Close by this were two fivegallon cans of kerosine with stoppers out Then the combustibles around were smeared and soaked with kerosine These buildings were of pine boards and a perfect tinder box and if lighted when the wind was blowing the whole town would doubtlessly have been destroyed It was to have been lighted last night about 0 oclock but through the honesty of the accomplice who had revealed L Lt me piou to nan a aozen or uie principal prin-cipal citizens there was and has been since the discovery of the intention in-tention strong private guard about the premises Last night Mr G was arrested and placed in jail and examination commenced at 10 oclock and the above is the gist of evidence given against him Mr G claims that the thing is a put up job on him but as the witness has been daily furnishing evidence for about a week as the arrangements to consummate the blaze have progressed pro-gressed there are none to be found who believe Greenbaums assertion It is said that the object sought was insurance money and it is said most of the valuable goods have been removed from the store to places of safety If the foregoing prove to be facts in the case which no one doubts this 9s one of the most heartless coldblooded attempts at crime that ever come to public knowledge for there were sick and helpless people in the block and families living closd by some of whom must have perished in the fire and half a million of property been destroyed de-stroyed and scores of families left homeless had the fiendish work been accsmplished There I is a feeling of fear and doubt as to whether the plot had sufficiently ripened when the arrest was made to bring the deserved punishment Only that there were a wife and children the feeling last night would have culminated in lynching Mrs Emery Miss Walker with other generous citizessgive a school exhibition and concert for the benefit bene-fit of our free school Plenty of early fruit berries and vegetables in market and flour selling sell-ing in the street this week for Si per hundred Market overdone with butter which often sells in street for 20c per pound I |