WORK OF PEORIA FIREBUG
Item
- Title
- WORK OF PEORIA FIREBUG
- Date
- 8/12/02
- page
- 1
- Identifier
- https://lccn.loc.gov/sn84020120
- Crime
- Arson
- Subject
- Arson; Firebug; Incendiary; Serial Arson
- Race of alleged offender
- White alleged offender
- Gender of alleged offender
- Male alleged offender
- Stage of the Legal System
- Arrested
- Location
- Out of state, Peoria IL
- Length of story
- 433
- Description
-
WORK OF PEORIA FIREBUG
Applies Torch to Five Buildings in One Day. SUSPECT IS UNDER ARREST. Flames at One Time Threatened Business Section of CityóLivery Stable and Nineteen Horses Are BurnedóFiremen Kept Busy.
Peoria. Aug. 12.óThe police and fire departments of Peoria were kept on the jump yesterday by the operations of an incendiary. The torch was applied to five buildings during the day and through the actual fire loss will not exceed $26,000, with an insurance of about $12,000. the flames at one time threatened to sweep a large section of the city. The police arrested Edward Flanagan, twenty years of age, on the charge of arson. They claim to have direct evidence against him. Shortly after his arrest the mutterings of the crowd made it necessary to remove the prisoner to the county jail for safe keeping. The first fire started at astore house of the Val Blatz Brewing company, at the foot of Harrison street. It was extinguished before serious damage had been done. Fire was next seen in Dooley Bros, coal sheds, but the damage there was nominal. Shortly after noon fire was discovered in Neumillerís livery barn. The flames spread with such rapidity that the nineteen horses occupying the basement floor and all the rigs were destroyed. The flames spread to the undertaking establishment owned by C. W. OíLeary, adjoining the livery barn. A general alarm was sounded I and every piece of lire fighting apparatus in the city was called out.Then came an alarm from the flouring mills of Horace Clark Sons. Part of the department was rushed to the mill, but the flames bad gained such headway that damage amounting to $8,000 was caused before the flames could be checked. While the department was fighting the Clark mills fire an alarm came in from the residence of Mrs. Reggy. in Warner avenue, where damage of $400 was caused. The incendiary began his work in Peoria about April 1 and so vigorously did he apply the torch during the month of April that the city council held a special session and offered a reward of $500 for his capture and conviction. The fire underwritersí association offered an additional reward of $500. Notwithstanding the fact that the reward had been doubled, he
continued his work. Up to date he has succeeded in suffocating and burning fifty-five horses and causing fire damages aggregating many thousands of dollars. When the Clark fire broke out Flanagan was seen to throw something into the building and walk hurriedly around the block. He was watching the fire when the police ar
rested him.
