Amish Country Arson Read online

  “The Amish around here are a quiet, withdrawn community of hard workers. This inferno of destruction has caused them a great deal of income loss and worry for the safety of their families and neighbors,” says Malcolm Yoder, owner of Yoder Country Store, in the country south of Wickenburg. He's one of the few outspoken members of the community that didn't mind talking to this reporter.

  “With word spreading on radio and television, now the outside world is stopping in at my store, asking questions about the burnings,” Malcolm Yoder told me. “They ask directions to see the barn that burnt. I pointed out that we had already set things right for Jonah Stolfus by having a barn raising. Now Jonah Stolfus tells me a steady stream of cars drive by his farm to see the new barn that just went up.”

  One customer at Yoder Country Store, who asked to leave his name out of the article for fear he might be burned out for speaking up, listened to Malcolm Yoder's comments. This reporter took the opportunity to ask for his thoughts on the arsons. He stated, “The questions brought up among us are about why this is happening to us, and what building will go up in flames next. These evil acts are not limited to our Plain community. English might find their buildings in flames, too.”

  Some of the Amish are having their faith tested as they keep a watchful eye on their property. One day this reporter traveled to the Amish community south and west of Wickenburg to view the damage for himself. As I passed by a blackened cornfield, I realized what a loss of winter feed this was for Rudy Briskey, the owner. I stopped to ask him to give his thoughts on this matter.

  “Why did the arsonist pick on us?” Asked Rudy Briskey. “We believe because we are God's sheep, we mean this person no harm. Matter of fact, we choose to forgive him. If that person was caught after burning a farmer's buildings on a non-Amish place, you might be writing his obituary. That is the difference between English and Plain people.”

  That made this reporter wonder just how an English farmer would feel about Rudy Briskey's comment. I stopped at the century old Carter family farm to visit with Bud Carter. Here is what he had to say. “I have nothing but respect for the Amish community. We should all be peaceful, more forgiving of others and mind our own business which is their life long practice.

  As for how an arsonist who is that mentally sick going to be treated in our justice system, I believe we have good law enforcement officers that will eventually catch the guy. They will see that due process of law is done, and the person will be in prison or a mental institution for a long time.

  I can understand how any farmer feels upset that lost his winter feed supply, a barn that houses a large herd of milk cows or the children's school house to such terrible acts.

  Rudy Briskey is right. A devastating fire could happen on my farm before this person is caught or at any other non-Amish farm. We should all be vigilant until this sick person is arrested. Am I going to sit up nights to keep watch over my property? Probably not, but my dog is running loose. He is a good watch dog, and my rifle will be close if I need to use it.”

  After extensive interviews and investigations for this story, this reporter found there could have been even more serious repercussions if it wasn't for our fine Wickenburg Fire Department. The first fire was at Jonah Stolfus's farm with the burning down his dairy barn. The intense heat curled the house siding, coming close to setting the house on fire if the Wickenburg Volunteer fire department hadn't been on scene so fast. Our hats are off to them!

  Mr. Stolfus lost some of his livestock to the fire and has others so badly burned they have been sick ever since. His dairy herd's milk production is down because of the fire which means he's losing income. Even with this much loss, Mr. Stolfus considers his family fortunate. If the animals hadn't woke them up, the house would have caught fire, and some of his family might have perished.

  Next came the fire to corn shocks in a farm field which was a loss of Rudy Briskey's winter cattle feed. A fire went through that dry field as if the shocks were made out of paper, coming very close to the house before the firemen arrived. If Mr. Briskey's animals hadn't woke him up, the fire trucks might not have made it in time before his house caught fire. As it was, the whole cornfield burnt almost to the house yard.

  This reporter understands the next fire was in the barn of John Lapp. In the middle of the night while the family slept, a bale of hay in the barn was set on fire. Mr. Lapp's wife, Nurse Hal, happened to be in the barn to check on a recently purchased milk goat. She was brutally attacked from behind. The hard blow to her head and inhaled smoke was enough to keep her in the hospital overnight. If not for the dog barking, and the upset cows and horses, the barn would have been a total loss with the Amish's well liked Nurse Hallie Lapp unconscious on the barn floor as it burned.

  The last fire, a low blow indeed, was the burning of the Amish's innocent children's building of learning, their school house. Of all the senseless acts, this one was the lowest blow.

  Now the outside world is coming around, asking questions about the burnings. The fires have left people in this county sympathetic with the Amish Community and nervous about where the arsonist might strike next. This sort of crime is so rare here that members of the Christian sect consider it a test of their faith as much as the Amish do. We all pray the person is caught soon.” John folded up the newspaper again.

  Hal cut the thread from the secured button on the shirt and put away her needle and scissors. “Phil did a gute job of stirring up people to be on guard for another fire. Hopefully if that happens, someone gets a look at the person so he can be arrested the next time. What kind of man is Bud Carter?”

  “A gute man. I have known him for years. He would not hurt anyone. He is just trying to send a warning message to the arsonist for all of us like Rudy Briskey did.” John smiled. “Last time I talked to Bud was the carriage sale at the salebarn when your father bought the courting buggy. Back then, Bud was trying to impress a woman so that day he bought a Cinderella coach.”

  Hal giggled. “Where on earth did that come from?”

  John shrugged. “I have no idea.”

  “Did the coach work?” Hal asked.

  “Jah, all Bud needed was a matched pair of horses to make it go,” John said.

  “Nah, John. I meant did he get the woman's attention?”

  “Ach, that! Jah, they got married,” John said.

  “Wait a second. Is Mr. Carter the sister of Susie that owns the Maid Rite? I remember she mentioned she was excited about her brother Bud and his wife expecting a baby when we dined there. That was when we shopped for Emma's wedding dress material,” Hal said.

  John stifled a yawn. “Jah, that is the family.”

  Hal looked puzzled. “Millie, the previous owner of the Maid Rite before Susie, was an Alperson. That's Susie's mother. Where does Bud Carter fit in?”

  “His mother was married to a Carter that owned the farm Bud farms. She had Bud and Susie. Her husband died and she married an Alperson,” John explained.

  “I see. This has been a long day. Do we have to wait up for the boys? I'm bushed.”

  “Me, too,” John said, placing the newspaper on the floor by his rocker. “The boys are big enough to take care of themselves. We can go to bed.”

  As soon as Hal blew out the lamp, she heard John snore. She just remembered Emma's news and had to tell right away. “John, I forgot to tell you something.”

  “What is it?” John mumbled.

  “Emma wants me to share that you're going to be a dawdi next spring,” Hal said softly.

  John rolled over and stared at Hal. “Why is it you have to save everything you want to surprise me with until I am almost asleep?”

  “Sorry, I forgot until now,” Hal said.

  “You are forgiven with es voonderball gute thing like this,” John said as he rolled back on his side.

  Hal put her hand on his shoulder. “Wait! Don't go to sleep yet. Not before I tell you that you're going to be a daed next spring, too.”

  John plopped back ov
er. “Are you sure? I am going to be a daed and a dawdi at the same time?”

  “Jah.” Hal paused. “Well, nah, maybe not at the same time. We cannot know that, but Emma and I've talked. We're sure we are both expecting. At this moment, she's telling Adam the news, too.”

  “Adam will make a gute father,” John said while he yawned.

  “That is what I told Emma. Adam will be so proud, and I am going to be a mammi. How about that?”

  Hal waited for John to answer. His reply was a series of long and loud snores.

  The Sunday worship service was at Eli and Mary Mast's house. Following the hymn and a prayer by Bishop Bontrager, Deacon Enos Yutzy gave a scripture reading. Next Luke Yoder came forward to give a message. He linked his fingers together in front of him and looked at the congregation. “It is the law of the Ordnung to live a simple life. Are there those among us in our group, maybe some of the youth that are covetous of English conveniences which is against our Ordnung? If we were to introduce modern conveniences into our lives we might start small with a cell phone, television or a transistor radio. I have heard over the years about our youth being attracted to these English items. Maybe a cell phone seems like a small thing, but we have our phone sheds when there is a need to use a phone. Television and radio are a sewer line to the American cesspool. We should avoid them.

  As for automobiles and electricity, if we had these things would we not then become dependent on them? Might we begin seeking to prosper beyond our needs to be able to afford to pay for such conveniences? Might that make us put money first in our lives ahead of God and family?

  Our buggies take us where we need to go. We do not need shiny new cars that are gas hogs which pollute our environment. Our fields and gardens produce food for our livestock and us. We do not need to spend a huge amount for food with rising prices in the grocery stores. If we only take the time to think about it, we have what we need, and that is enough. We should always be content with what we have.” Luke looked toward the back rows filled with teenage boys in the rumspringa age group. “To our youth, I say as you mature you should remember this sermon. One day, you will be able to look back and say Luke Yoder was right.”

  Daniel felt as if Luke meant the message for Noah and him. He wanted the hard bench seat to swallow him up, but that wasn't going to happen. He wiggled on the seat, feeling guilty for even knowing about Noah's radio.

  Luke continued. “We are raised with basic convictions and know to live our life with meaning and purpose. We surrender to God by living in a way that pleases God and by obeying religious authority.

  Gelassenheit is layered with many meanings. One such is self surrender. Another is self denial which includes modern conveniences that is not of our world such as computers, cell phones, televisions and radios.

  Resigning ourselves to God's will, gentleness, a calm and contented spirit and quiet acceptance of whatever comes is the only way to live.

  Take a look some time at a wren. It is as if this tiny brown bird knows Romans chapter twelve verse two first hand. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. That ye may prove what is that is gute, and acceptable, and the perfect will of God.

  The wren perches on fence posts and watches the world go on around it. He is happy to live a simple life, build a small nest for two eggs and eat only what is needed to survive and feed the babies.

  The tiny bird is content. How do I know? You can tell by the cheerful songs he sings.”

  As a demonstration, a wren lit outside the window and warbled a bubbly tune for the congregation. That caused Plain heads to nod, and the room filled with amens as the congregation smiled while they listened. The bird's song caused Luke Yoder to give a silent denki to God for emphasizing his message. “Listen to the wren sing. He pleases us with his natural tune and has no more need for modern conveniences than we do. Now Bishop Bontrager will deliver his message.” Luke returned to his seat.

  Bishop Bontrager came forward. The fact that he focused on the boys toward the back of the room was not lost on Daniel. “Luke Yoder's message is very timely. I fear that too many of our youth in rumspringa have been tempted to buy a phone or a radio. Two items that are small enough to hide from parents. Take it from me if your parents do not find out, the more you think about your dishonesty to your parents, your faith and God, that alone will haunt you. Come forward and confess this sin and admit to wrong doing so God may forgive you.

  Now I have been trying to decide what sermon to use for a special message. We are so blessed to be able to help each other in time of need. It is my feeling that we can endure any hardship put in our way as long as we have our church community to come to our aid. It is well for us to help others when the need arises, knowing some day we might need that help returned to us.

  I have decided to talk about Paul's Request for Prayer this morning. Paul prayed about some people's idle ways.” Bishop Bontrager opened his bible and read, “He said to his brethren, “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

  For yourselves, know how ye ought to follow us. For we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you. Neither did we eat any man's bread for naught; but wrought with labor and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you.

  Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an example unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

  Bishop Bontrager looked around the congregation and settled his eyes on the the teenage boys again. “What was written in the bible reads so true still today. There are those among us that think to be busy bodies, as the bible calls them, when others are working hard to accomplish a task such as the Stolfus barn raising. When the hard working men were called to come break bread, the busy bodies came just as fast to sit among the workers for a share of the food. That was food they did not deserve since they did not work for it as Paul did. The busy bodies did not think anyone noticed them accept the food offering. Perhaps, not many around them took notice, but believe me when I say that what we on earth see and think is not as important as the fact that God was watching the busy bodies. It is him they will have to atone to for their sins.

  You see Paul felt very strongly about laboring for the food he was to be given so he did not owe anyone for it. What did he tell his brethren? Not to get tired of well doing. Note the men who do not work as hard and have no company with them. For those men should be ashamed. We are not to count them as an enemy, but admonish them for their laziness as our brothers. Keep that in mind when we see the busy bodies among us.

  Now time for the final hymn and prayer.”

  The bishop sat down, and Luke Yoder stood up. He picked Eli Mast to lead the last hymn. When that finished, Luke said the final prayer and announced, “Now Bishop Bontrager will come forward.”

  The bishop said, “There is a member meeting. All those that need to will leave the house now.” After the younger generation left, the bishop said, “We are sadly missing a school that meant so much to many Plain generations as a place of learning and social gatherings.

  Adam Keim has furnished a make shift school in the top of his store until a new school can be built. We are thankful for his coming forward so the pupils do not get too far behind in their learning.

  Now we meet to determine when to erect the new school house and how much materials we will need. As soon as the fellowsh
ip meal is over, we should gather a committee to discuss this matter.

  Does anyone have any other thoughts at this member meeting?”

  Rudy Briskey stood up. “We sure hope the arsonist is caught soon, before anyone is killed in one of his fires. We have been lucky so far. Praise the Lord, Nurse Hal is all recht.”

  He was interrupted by the congregation with shouts of, “Amen!”

  Rudy continued, “Each of the fires were an expense that costs dearly in our brotherly aid insurance fund. Without that fund, it would take some of us years to get over the loss of our property. More of the members need to think about paying their dues.

  But for now to put money back in the fund to replace the barn expense and pay for the school house expense, we need to have a benefit frolic. It might be gute to have the women get in on that to give us ideas and help organize the benefit.”

  “That is gute. We have much to think about and work to do. I would say Paul would be pleased with us and think we are worthy of being fed. Now meeting adjourned so we can eat,” Bishop Bontrager said and chuckled.

  While Hal was serving the men their dessert, she set a piece of pumpkin pie by Rudy Briskey's plate. He looked up at her, concern on his face. “Nurse Hal, are you feeling all recht now?”

  “Jah, I'm fine, Rudy,” Hal said.

  “I felt bad that the arsonist was in your barn when you had to go check the goat you bought from me,” Rudy said contritely.

  “Don't worry about it, Rudy.” Hal turned to go back for another tray of pie. It surprised her that Rudy felt guilty about selling her a jumping goat that almost got her killed.

  “Nurse Hal.” She turned around. Rudy Briskey gave her that winning there's a sucker born every minute smile. “How is the milk goat doing now?”

  Hal knew the complaints he expected to hear now that he knew she'd recovered, but he wouldn't get sour grapes from her. She looked across the table at John. He was glued to her every word, wondering how she'd handle the question. “Rudy, Gano is the friendliest, sweetest milk goat. The whole family has taken a liking to her. She's doing well with the sheep, too. She fits right in with them now. Denki so much for suggesting her to me.” She glanced at John, and he winked at her.