Troy Daily Times Troy, Rensselaer County, NY July 13, 1860 (cont) INCENDIARY FIRES -- DARING ATTEMPT TO BURN A CHURCH A most deliberate and diabolical attempt was made this morning to fire the Park Presbyterian church, Rev. Mr. ROBERTSON, pastor, which but for the timely discovery of the flames, would no doubt have been successful. No less than three different attempts were made to set the church on fire, twice in one place and once in another. The basement of the church is occupied as a Sunday School room, and a portion for the storage of such odds and ends as necessarily accumulates. The heater is also located in the basement, and in its vicinity is a pile of kindling wood. The first attempt was made about 12 o'clock. DORING's Bank was out serenading with a party of young gentlemen, and were playing in front of one of the residences on Second street, when a servant girl arose for the purpose of enjoying the music. Upon looking out of a window in the house,m she discovered a man by the basement window of the church, endeavoring to light some matches. She gave no alarm, as she supposed him to be the sexton of the church, but it is now quite evident he was then endeavoring to set the building on fire. This morning, however, at 5 o'clock, smoke was discovered issuing from the basement of the church in the corner where the kindling wood is, and efforts were at once made to extinguish the flames. This was soon accomplished with pails of water, and an examination proved that but little damage had been done to the interior of the building. The fire had evidently been struggling for life a considerable while, but fortunately did not break out until people were astir for the morning, and a timely discovery made. The whole damage to the church will not exceed $50. The object of this outrageous and cowardly act cannot be designed. Whether the attempt was made to gratify any feeling against the church or to satiate the cravings of some demon, for applying the torch and creating a conflagration, cannot be determined. The congregation is one of the most respectable in Troy; the pastor, Mr. ROBERTSON, is almost a stranger here, and one of the most courteous, kind-hearted gentlemen in the city. We can imagine no motive to injure either the congregation or the pastor, and if the design was simply to have a fire without any regard as to the place, we can only wonder at the stupidity of the incendiary in setting it where it would be so likely to be discovered very quickly, and where at least the flames would be so soon subdued. There is very little to make a fire out of in the building; and in either aspect the cause of the attempt is a mystery as yet. We hope the guilty person may be apprehended and punished. Submitted by: Colleen Boose