As if our challenge is not great enough...

[K Bartsch]

we have arsonists trying to burn down historic sites. Read the attached article just in on how we very narrowly lost Beauvoir, Jeff Davis' retirement home and its priceless collection of artifacts, relics and antiques.

It was indeed providential that a gentleman was happening by in the wee hours of the morning, and had the presence of mind to act quickly and decisively to save this important piece of our history.

I wish there was some sort of "A-C Preservation Cross of Gallantry" we could award Mr LeMasters!

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/8865804.htm

Cordially,

[Spinster]

Re: As if our challenge is not great enough...

And thank you Keith for finding actual coverage of this story--various messages about this arson fire have been bouncing around in my email box for the last couple of days--and mostly of the "somebody told me" sort of thing, and mostly from the sort of folks who promulgate various conspiracy theories.

You are always good at getting to the bottom line, and this case was no exception. I had hoped against hope that the story was not true.

[K Bartsch]

Re: As if our challenge is not great enough...

And thank you Keith for finding actual coverage of this story--various messages about this arson fire have been bouncing around in my email box for the last couple of days--and mostly of the "somebody told me" sort of thing, and mostly from the sort of folks who promulgate various conspiracy theories.

You are always good at getting to the bottom line, and this case was no exception. I had hoped against hope that the story was not true.

Look on the bright side...the house was saved! Nevertheless, I'd sure be having me a little chat with the "security guard" :wink_smil

Cordially,

[DougCooper]

Re: As if our challenge is not great enough...

Good grief. My favorite Tait jacket is in there!! Seriously, there will always be idiots who vandalize, destroy and otherwise ruin that piece of America the perps don't believe in. Bad mistake - arsonists often get caught because they brag about their crimes.

This was close, insurance does not mean much when every item insured is one of a kind...

How about a letter from the AC as Keith suggests?

[TeamsterPhil]

Re: As if our challenge is not great enough...

Not to be overly suspicious, but a friend of mine noticed that it was VERY fortunate that a person employed as firefighter just happened to be the first one to notice the fire.

Phil Campbell
Just thankful that the fire was put out, but hoping the arsonist is caught - whoever it is.

[K Bartsch]

Re: As if our challenge is not great enough...

Not to be overly suspicious, but a friend of mine noticed that it was VERY fortunate that a person employed as firefighter just happened to be the first one to notice the fire.

Phil Campbell
Just thankful that the fire was put out, but hoping the arsonist is caught - whoever it is.

Phil,
Like I posted on the "other" forum, I tend to think this was in all likelihood a legitimate case of good fortune and heroics by Mr LeMaster. If this fellow were attempting to make himself famous in this way, I suspect he'd have had a large capacity ABC fire extinguisher handy there in his vehicle with which he could dashed in and quickly put out the fire just in the nick of time and not had to resort to a trash bag of water filled from an outside spigot.

Just my opinion, and admittedly, I'm no fire investigator.

Cordially,

[Michael McComas]

Re: As if our challenge is not great enough...

Not to be overly suspicious, but a friend of mine noticed that it was VERY fortunate that a person employed as firefighter just happened to be the first one to notice the fire.

Phil Campbell
Just thankful that the fire was put out, but hoping the arsonist is caught - whoever it is.

I have two brothers who are firefighters. They see smoke, they go and look. It's just a natural reaction. It's what they do. Probably 50 other people drove by that same spot and saw the smoke, but no one thought to investigate.