Today we go a little further afield than the area of the upper Peninsula.
The tragic burning of a block of buildings has drawn some historical attention as that block was also thoroughly burned a little over one hundred years ago..
There is more to the story than that however; it is a tale of destructive fires, wartime fears and . . . suspected German agents.
TAPPAHANNOCK BURNED SUSPECT GERMAN SPIES
Post office and Several Large Stores Completely Destroyed. Veil of Mystery Surrounding Arrival of Strangers Causes Their Arrest As Kaiser’s Agents.
News reached Richmond last night that the business section of Tappahannock in Essex county, was almost totally demolished by a act of in incendiary origin Saturday night and that two strange men, suspected of being German spies and responsible or the conflagration, are being held by the authorities.
Incidents concerning the arrival of he two strangers and their subsequent actions have been so significantly mysterious that Commonwealth’s Attorney James T. Lewis ordered their arrest before the blaze had been extinguished.
The fire started about 10:80 In Henley's drug store. Mr. Henley, the proprietor, carefully locked every door in its store and went next door to the barber shop to have his shoes shined. He was sitting there a few minutes after when the alarm of fire was given by a passer-by. Rushing out of the barber shop, he found his store in a light blaze. The post office, located text door, was burned down, but all he mail saved. The Farmers Supply, the Brick store, Henley's, and several smaller adjoining stores were burned to the ground. It is not known is yet what the property loss will amount to.
Suspects Arrive Friday.
The two suspects arrived in Tappahannock Friday on the steamer, proceeding to the Hotel Gresham,, where they registered for an indefinite period. When arrested they gave different names from those on the motel register. A resident of the town saw them Saturday morning and recognized them as the two men he saw in Irvington last week at the time of the fire in that town, but did not retort his suspicions to the authorities until the fire was discovered that light.
A farmer named Markan, who lives a short distance from the village, met the strangers at the boat but they did not accompany him home. He appeared at the hotel yesterday morning in search of the register bearing the incriminating evidence of the men having used different names from those given when arrested, but was unable to get away with it, as Commonwealth’s Attorney Lewis took charge of the register last tight. Markson is said to have stated after the arrest that he did not now the two men, but that his daughter had written him to meat them, ending their pictures that he might recognize them. Markson is said to be a foreigner and to have lived In he vicinity several years.
The suspects are said to be of exceedingly good appearance, and so unmistakably gentlemen that the townfolks would not confine them in the jail, which is badly in need of repairs. After being placed under arrest, they were put under guard at the hotel, and are allowed the liberty of the grounds.
Motive Is Unknown.
Citizens of the village could not account for any reasonable motive, except an attempt to burn the post office and mall contained therein, aa a blow to the government. A small hole in the rear of Mr. Henley's store is supposed to have given the necessary opening to start the fire.
Tappahannock has a population of only about 500 and has no fire engine. The work of extinguishing the blaze was done by the bucket brigade, in which women, young and old, rendered heroic service, shoulder to shoulder with the men and boys of the village. Much of the merchandise from the burned stores was removed, but was badly damaged by water. The bank and courthouse were uninjured, but only one or two small stores remain undamaged.
It is expected that federal authorities will be notified this morning to start a thorough investigation into the facts concerning the start of the fire suspicious incidents surrounding the arrival of the foreigners. No word had reached United States Marshall Saunders last night.
-Virginian (Richmond), 25 June 1917
The timing could not appear more suspicious to a nation that had only been at war with Germany for two months and for an area that had just experienced a similar conflagration that week.
IRVINGTON SWEPT BY FLAMES.
Virginia Citizen Office and Plant - Lancaster National Bank - Gunby & Son Store and Other, Buildings Destroyed.
Loss $30,000; Insurance $18,000.
At 2.45 o'clock Monday afternoon a fire which had its origin in the electric plant of the Virginia Citizen office, from some unknown cause, was discovered and had gained such headway that in a short while the entire building was in a blaze. With the exception of saving the linotype machine in a badly damaged condition and the mailing list books, the entire plant was destroyed. In this building was also located the offices of the Northern Neck; Mutual Fire Association and this company was fortunate in saving all books and all records of insurance. On the second floor of the Citizen building was located the Irvington opera house.
The fire continued to spread until it had burned the Lancaster National Bank, in this building was located the dental parlor of Dr. G.H. Oliver. F. A. Gunby & Son Store and stock of general merchandise. The office building of Dr. W.J. Newbill. also used as a Marine Hospital. In this building was also located the law office of Mr. F. G. Newbill. Most of the contents of the building was saved. The barber shop, town water works and local telephone exchange, were also burned. Dr. Newbill's loss on building was about $1,000; Dr. Oliver about $150. Neither carried insurance.
-Northern Neck News, 22 June 1917 (Friday)
The Irvington fire was proportionately even more damaging, almost totally destroying the little town.
According to later reports the two suspect "German spies" were "A. Brogenhart, a Swede, of New York, and M. Hulmann, a German, of the same city." They were held three days until a Secret Service agent arrived from Norfolk, questioned and then released.
