arced wiring and confusion with the wiring

It sounds like you might be punching over your weight but start with checking the size of the fuse before doing anything else. It should blow without damaging the wiring, ie something in the range of 5amp to 8amp for the average lighting circuit. Without the details it's hard to help at the moment.

post some links to a photo.

Do you have the old cotton covered rubber wire? Just touching the stuff can make it crumble and short out to boxes and itself.

You mentioned the wires pulled out of the switch. Did your switch have those stab connectors where you just poke a wire in the back?

Most folks have a handy neighbor within a block or two of where they live that they would ask to come have a look and a cold beer while there.