ATTEMPTED INCENDIARISM.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4198, 27 January 1871, Page 2

ATTEMPTED INCENDIARISM.

A villainous attempt to set fire to the large and valuable block of buildings known as the Pacific Hotel and Academy of Music, Grahamstown, was made last night. At about half-past ten o'clock, a man named Cook (one of the hands engaged in repairing the steamer 'Duke of Edinburgh') was walLltig &l&ag thi whapf, whfln h« happened to notice smoke and flames isauinsc from the joints of the weather-boarding. He at once gave the alarm to Mr. Curtis, the proprietor of the Pacific, and a rush was made to the spot ; and, after * little exertion (water being so handy), the fire was extinguished. It was then ascertained that a bundle of rags and staff saturated with kerosine had been placed by way of ths aperture against the insidn back of the building and set fire to. The flames had burnt the boards nearly half • way through, and, ' ut for the'interposition of a stud-brace, could hardly Have failed in creeping through a crack of the stage-floor.