STRANGE FIRES IN CLEVELAND.
THE Cleveland Leader of May 1, 1880, published the following. Similar phenomena were reported in Michigan, some years ago. At No. 76 Lussenden avenue live the family of John Bush, a hard-working German, employed at the Cleveland Rubber Works. The story, as learned by a Leader reporter, who visited the place yesterday, savors so much of the supernatural that he feels able simply to reproduce it without attempting any theory, leaving that with those better able to cope with the scientific and mysterious. The house, which stands in that portion of the Sixteenth ward between Giddings and Madison avenues, largely inhabited by the employees of the mills and manufactories along the Cleveland and Pittsburg Railway tracks, is small and unattractive in appearance, being but one story high, with an attic. As the reporter approached it at dusk last evening, the street in front and the yard were crowded with anxious-looking men, women, and children, who had been attracted from the neighborhood by the reports that they had heard of the mysterious appearance of fire at intervals within the house. Bush was found in the shed, or back kitchen, surrounded by another curious gathering, to whom he was relating a recent occurrence. The floor was covered with articles of furniture, and in the front room the wife and several other women were with the children, nine persons in all. The older of these sat about the room with fear in their white faces. There was a heavy, unpleasant smell of smoke throughout the house, and various garments and articles of furniture showed marks of having been burned or scorched. The man's statement, made in broken English, is as follows: Several months ago he moved from Amherst, where he had lived for thirteen years, being for most of that time employed as a switchman on the Lake Shore Road. Five or six years ago his house was destroyed by fire, the cause being, as was supposed, a defective flue. His first home in this city was at No. 1177 Lincoln avenue, where on Sunday, the 18th inst., the first remarkable appearance of flames occurred. Some clothes—a coat, vest, and dress—which hung upon the wall, suddenly began to smoke, sending forth a peculiarly sickening smell. This was followed in a moment by a dark blue blaze that leaped hungrily over the garments and almost consumed them before the fire was extinguished. His wife said that matches in his pocket had ignited, but he was positive there were no matches there. On the following day he went to work as usual, and when he came home was met by his wife, who was frantic with fear. During his absence the fire had appeared seven different times. In the first instance, the bed upon which one of the children lay sleeping, took fire, reappearing twice after it had been put out. Being of a superstitious nature, she feared that some evil spirit hung over them, craving the life of the youngest child. To appease the wrath of the unknown, whatever it was, she went out into the fields, and cast to the winds all the money they had, about thirty dollars (all but ten dollars of this was afterward found). The father decided to stay at home the following day, and watch, and called in a friend to watch with him. By this time the mystery had been noised about, and everybody that came in decided that the children had been playing with matches. There seemed to be no other explanation, but the children stoutly denied it. Dr. J. B. McGee, who lived near, was called in to make an examination. He thought at first that it was an ignition of phosphorus, but upon hearing the story in detail could give no solution. Bush, being a Catholic, appealed to Father Baker, of the church of the Holy Family, who came to the place, but could shed no light on the subject. Bush remained at the house on Lincoln avenue until Tuesday, when he made up his mind to quit the place and move to the house on Lussenden avenue, hoping thereby to shake off the mystery. On Friday the fire once more appeared, burning the straw in one of the beds. The straw in a barrel that stood in the shed was also burned in the same manner on Saturday, together with several coats that hung on the wall. By this time the family had nearly become crazy. Many of their household goods and clothes had been destroyed, and some of the neighbors, filled with sympathy, came in and endeavored to console them and pacify their fears. On Sunday Mrs. Foland, a lady living on Giddings avenue, dropped in to lend her aid in this direction. She took off her hat and laid it upon the table, where it had not remained five minutes when a large feather upon it was touched by the strange flame and nearly consumed. The reporter called upon Mrs. Foland herself, who fully corroborated this statement, and exhibited the hat as proof. On Monday the fire appeared twice, each time destroying some clothes. Yesterday morning, a child's dress that hung on a peg near the door, smoked, blazed for a minute or two, and fell to the floor. These singular occurrences have been witnessed by neighbors, who came in to watch out of curiosity, and there is no one living on the street but believes everything that is told. The reporter selected one man from the crowd that stood about while Bush was making his statement. He seemed intelligent, and ready to tell all he knew. He pronounced Bush's story true in every particular. He had himself seen a coat burn up in the mysterious manner described, but, like the rest, could offer no explanation whatever. These are plain facts. There is no reason to doubt Bush's story, while there is good proof that he has told the truth. The suspense he has gone through seems to have nearly crazed him. No one can convince him that there is not something supernatural in it.