1909 Arson Fires - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Two more barns were burned Wednesday night through the nefarious work of Crawfordsville’s fire bug who apparently intends to kindle blazes every night now instead of every Saturday night as has been his custom. The big barn in the rear of the home of Robert Larsh on South Grant Avenue and rented jointly by Mr. Larsh, Mrs. Mary Snyder and James G. Wedding was the first structure set on fire. This was just about 8 o’clock. Ten minutes later the barn of Fred Doherty, 804 Perry Street was discovered to be on fire. It was burned to the ground.  Both of these fires were clearly of incendiary origin.  The fire in the Larsh barn was started in the south end which was rented by Mrs. Snyder who in turn had sublet one of the stalls to Township Trustee Chas. V. Hodgkin. Mr. Hodgkin put his horse in the barn for the first time at 6 o’clock Wednesday night. Two hours later his horse was cremated in the fire. The horse of Robert Larsh in the middle part of the stable was badly scorched by the flames but in some manner was saved. The barn was very badly damaged but was not burned to the ground. The north part rented by Mr. Wedding was not materially damaged. A quantity of hay and grain owned by Mr. Larsh was burned. The buggies in the structure were removed without being burned. The flames communicated to the barn of Mrs. WC Lydick across the alley and her barn was slightly damaged.  In her barn were the horses owned by Harry T. Stout who has already suffered two big fire losses this winter. His horses were removed from the barn in safety. J. Harvey Canine who rooms at the Lydick home phoned in the alarm.  The alarm for the Larsh fire was answered by both the central and the east end departments. Two lines of hose had just been laid and the fire ladies were just getting the streams of water upon the flames when the alarm for the Doherty fire was sounded. Doc Griffin and a part of the force at the central station hastened off for the Doherty fire.  Upon their arrival the barn was a mass of flames and the structure couldn’t be saved. The Doherty barn was a large new barn, 90 x 40 feet in size and had been built to be used for transfer purposes. The barn was fitted up with electric lights, a light being stationed at every stall.  A number of vehicles were being kept in there but they were all removed safely.  There were no horses in the barn at the time as Mr. Doherty has delayed buying any horses until the fire bug is caught. Mr. Doherty carried insurance but the loss will amount to something like $500 more than the insurance.  About 10 o’clock Wednesday night a couple of hours after the Larsh and Doherty fires a third alarm was sounded. The alarm was caused however by the burning out of some soot in the chimney at the home of Mrs. Shirley on South Grant avenue. No damage was done and the services of the firemen were not needed.  The great frequency and startling regularity with which the fires are occurring in Crawfordsville has aroused the citizens to a high state of excitement. People are FRANTIC!

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Review Friday March 26, 1909 p 8

Another barn has been burned in Crawfordsville by the city’s fiendish fire bug. This fire which was kindled at 9:30 o’clock Tuesday night burned to the ground the barn of Frank O. Maxwell who lives in Whitlock Place. The structure was not discovered to be on fire until it was a mass of flames.