100 years ago in The Saratogian

Sunday, Jan. 20, 1918

Investigators believe that an arsonist who’s plagued Saratoga Springs for months is responsible for three fires set within one half hour in the southeastern part of the city early this morning.

“To discover the identity of the firebug who has been setting the long string of fires over a period of several months is proving a difficult task for the police and fire departments,” The Saratogian reports, “It is understood that at least three suspects have been brought to headquarters and examined, but all have been released for lack of evidence.”

The latest spree starts on the piazza of Duncan Ferguson’s home at the corner of Williams and South Federal, a property owned by St. Peter’s Church. Parishioner E. J. Fitzpatrick detects the small fire on his way to church at 6:45 a.m.

“The incendiary had piled up chips against the front door, sprinkled them with kerosene and then used a match,” a reporter writes. The blaze apparently had been started moments before, and Fitzpatrick is able to stamp it out before it spurts too far up the wall. The firebug’s setup matches the m.o. of arson fires set at the Grand Union and Gross hotels last month.

Around 7 a.m., Alfred L. Waring detects a fire in the rear of his store at 114 Congress as he leaves home for church. He calls the fire department, but when a company arrives, a neighbor of Waring’s tells the firemen they’re at the wrong spot.

“What are you doing over here? The fire is over there!” the unidentified neighbor says. He points firefighters to a blaze set in the rear of John Farone’s house at 100 ½ Congress. The firemen manage to snuff both fires quickly, using an extinguisher at Waring’s and a stream of water at Farone’s.

“It is the theory of the police that the incendiary is demented, with a craze for setting fires,” the report concludes. While none of the arsonist’s fires has done much damage, investigators note that the Ferguson fire could have turned out very badly had it gotten through the door into the front hallway. The front stairs are the only route in or out of Ferguson’s second-floor apartment. Fitzpatrick was unable to rouse Ferguson’s family during the fire; they only learned of the blaze when he called them from church.

Skating race

E. Kmleck of Schenectady wins a $5 prize for the best time at a speed-skating race today at Ryall’s Rink. A “large crowd” sees Kmleck finish the 1.25 mile course in 4 minutes, 11 seconds. Charles Mulady of Saratoga Springs finishes second.