OCR Text |
Show ALMOST A FX11E. liy Mere Accident Ilatlien-bruck's Ilatlien-bruck's Store is Saved. Appearances Indicates That an Incendiary Incend-iary Came Nearly Getting- in His Work Early tuis Morning-. This morning, at about half-past one o'clock, by mere accident the dry goods and clothing house of Ilatheu-bruck Ilatheu-bruck ..v. Co., on Center sireet, was prevented pre-vented from being consumed in (lames. When t'ie store was closed hist night, the shoo department was swept clean and the (1 .or left wet. At about half-past eleven o'clock last night, Charles Peterson, Pet-erson, an employee who slept in the building, went to bed. He had slept perhaps two hours when he was awakened awak-ened by a stilling and choking sensation. sensa-tion. When thoroughly awaKened he realized that the room was filled wiih smoke. He located the lire as being in the sdioe department, grasped a pilcher and ran to the front mr water threw it on the lire and lunl a diilicult time getting the best of the Maine which was gaining ground rapily, among the dry shelves and papers. J'v the time Night-watchmen Llliott and Hatton were on I he scene -and the three to gether sm ithered tiie lire effectually. There was upon the floor in the corner near a number of paper Poxes, a pile of rags saturated with linseed oil used in the store for the purpose of polishing tin counter and it was these that had cither been set afire or had caught lire in some unaccountable manner. There could not possibly have been left any match, cigarette ori ig ir stump carelessly, as the greatest precaution had been taken. Mr. Peterson, upon awaking, thought he heard noises as of some one walking m th-i store. This led to the belief that an incendiary had been at work. A thorough search of the store, up and down. in garret gar-ret and in cellar was made, but no trace of anyone was found. The night was pitch bnk, however, and the incendiary, in-cendiary, if there was one about, made his escape. It was possible for him to do so while Mr. Peterson was out of the Ouildiig afLer Witter. It is indeed a lucky thing that the lire was mastered at so early a stage, as had a conflagration laged in that vicinity untold damage and loss would Lave rtfciilted. |