Suspicion of Arson After Slaughter House Fire

This morning, between the hours of three and four o'clock, the fire alarm aroused our sleeping people. The fire department turned out in the drizzling rain and soon found that the fire was on the Beach road, about one mile south of the city. To drag the fire engine that distance in the present condition of the roads was impracticable; so the individual members, with buckets, started for the scene of the conflagration. Arriving there it was found that the slaughter house of A. W. Malson was on fire. The building was so enveloped in flames that nothing could be done towards saving it, and none of its contents could be removed. There was a large barn filled with hay directly across the road; and attention was at once directed toward saving this property and a stable near by. These efforts were successful, and the flames were confined to the slaughter house. There were in the building at the time of the fire six live sheep, three sows and pigs, one and a half dressed beeves, eighty hides and three thousand pounds of tallow, and all of the equipments necessary for a slaughter house. Of all this property nothing was saved. The loss is placed at $1,200 to $1,500, on which there was no insurance. From the circumstances connected with this fire, Mr. Malson thinks there is no doubt but it was the work of an incendiary. There had been no fire in the furnace, which was located in the west side of the building, for two days past. In the southeast corner was a sheep pen, and directly over it was some hay. When first discovered the fire was in this corner, and the roof ready to fall, showing that the fire must have been started from this hayloft. There was a dog in the building below, and he would not allow strangers to enter, so it is probable that the fire was set by some person pushing it through from the outside. Mr. Malson has offered a reward of $300 for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons firing the premises.