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SERIES OFHIFIRESAUGUST SCHULTZEA series of fires during the past week at the farm residence of August Schultze, southeast of town, aside from doing considerable damage, have created widespread excitement and speculation as to their origin and have caused the presence here of a deputy state fire marshai who Is now making an Investigation.The first fire at the Schultze home occurred last Saturday morning. It started Inside the house and before the flames could be extinguished considerable damage had been done to bedding and clothing,Tuesday morning Are was again reported at the Schultze home and a number of persons rushed out in automobiles to the scene. After the blaze had been extinguished and people were beginning to leave, another fire broke out in a ditfferent part of ’ the house and while this was being attended to other outbreaks were reported in different parts of the house from cellar to attic until there was at one time fire in five different places.Observers say there was a strongodor of coal oil about the place. In fact articles of clothing and bedding were found saturated with oil and a fruit Jar w\as found in the attic which had recently contained coal oil. When the fires were at their height, someone telephoned to town to turn in analarm and the city's electric siren was given its first practical test. J'he city's auto chemical outfit was rushed to the scene but by the time ft had arrived the fires were put out. but not until a great amount of damage had been done to the resdence and Its furnishings k A crowd of people, however, remained about the house all ■ ,‘jlfcy and ithe chemical engine was left there in case of another outbreak.y About 4 o'clock in the afternoon • cnpok e rw,as seen issuing .. from the bftrn and the firefighters got busy again, using the chemical outfit with Tjpiod effect and saving the barn before much damage, was done. It was aflter this a ^lose watch was kept all $ver the premse?j and th6re were nofurther outbreaks.Mr. Schultze and his eldest son were in a nearby field cutting wheat Tuesday morning when tho first fire started. They saw smoke coming from the attic and ran to the house. Mr. Schultze endeavored to use the telephone but found the fuse had been removed and the ground rod had been pulled up outside the house. This was afterwards fixed so that the telephone could be used. Mrs. Schultze and several of the children were at home at the time and declare that they-saw no one in or around the house before the fires started.There is no doubt but that (he fires were of incendiary origin, but the fact that they were all started in broad daylight ‘ and with members of the family anti others about the place is a matter that has not been explained even if it is known. Edward Lewis, aged Ul and a farmhand employed by Hen Schultze. .was arrested Tuesday evening by Constable J. S Jarvis on suspicion. He was lodged in the city-jail but afterwards released as it was proven that he was nt work in*the field nearby with the Srhiitf7.es when the first outbreak oc* curred and had fought the fire all day at the Schultze place.It will be remembered that some time ago Mr. Schultze received several anonymous threatening tetters which declared that he was going to be killed.A The letters caused considerable excitement at the time but nothing came of them and they were considered the work of some crank or trouble-maker. The series of fires,however, would indicate that there#is some unknown and dangerous force at work which may .yet accomplish its object. So far as is-known Mr. Schultze has no enemies and suchpersecution.tsK.ua^^anted.J.* EL EldGr of'tiascS, fa'the' deputystate fire marshal on the job and it is to be hoped that through his investigations the orlgth of all the trouble will be discovered and that further occurrences will be prevented.THE CONTRACT MAY BE LET AT SPRINGFIELD TUESDAY.FRAUD CHARGED IN MINE TESTExaminations In Illinois Are Said to Have Been Irregular.Springfield, 111., June 18.—Sweeping irregularities alleged to have arisen in the conduct of state examinations
Newspaper Details
Troy Call
Troy, Illinois, US
Fri, Jun 24, 1921
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Jeannie B.
USA 26 May 2018
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