The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-18
FOUR FIRE ALARMS.
Three of Them Attributed to
Ineendiarism.
NO SERIOUS DAMAGE WAS DONE.
Prompt Action on the Part of the Fire
Department-All Take Place at
the South End of Town.

Three fires. supposed to be of incendiary
origin, broke out yesterday morning at
4:i0 o'clock, and but for the fortunate dis
covery and quick work of the hre depart
ment in two instances and the presence OF
mind of citizens in the third serious loss
might have occurred. Another small
blaze called out the department last
night.
An alarm from box AZ, at the corner OF
Commercial and Main streets, was turned
| in by Frank White at the time men
toned, for fire which had
been discovered in the closet on
the third door of the North
western hotel. The flames had not gained
much Roadway and were extinguished by
people in the house before the apparatus
arrived.
When Assistant Chief NARROW reached
the box he was told that the fire was IN
the Squire-Latimer building. on the north
east corner of Commercial and Main
street He went into that building and
passed from the ground TO the top floor,
but failed TO discover smoke or the least
indication of fire. he went up on the
roof and saw a black cloud of smoke
coming from the rear of the Kenyon block,
which is just north of the block upon which
he stood. The men below were notified
and soon located the fire in an annex 70
the building. This annex. was made of
corrugated iron and was red hot in many
places, but the chemical smothered the
flames in short order.
At the same moment that the fire was
discovered on the second floor, second
blaze was located on the third floor, sepa-
rate and in no way connected with the
first This was also extinguished quickly,
before damage TO the building 10 any ex-
tent had taken place.
The Kenyon block is a three-story brick,
located at 214 Commercial STREE,
and owned by ]. G. Kenyon. The
two upper stories are occupied by
Mrs. C. Fray as lodging-house At the
rear of the building and running 10 the
top is q corrugated iron annex, the dimen-
sions of which are about four by six feet.
In the closet on the second floor Mrs. Fray
kept a clothes-bag, which was always hung
upon nail in the door. Under the sink
was an oil can and also lamp or two. be-
sides other household goods. In the third
story closet was bedding stored away. The
floor between these closets is of iron and
practically they are separated from each
other. The inmates Of the house were I'M
aware OF the danger until aroused when
4 the fremen appeared on the scene. When
the fire was out and Chief Kellogg investi-
gated the case il was found that the
clothes which should have been in the
bag and hanging on the wall were on the
door, and had furnished food for the
flames. The kerosene oil can was not
touched, nor were there any signs that il
had been used IN starting the fire. The
bedding on the third floor was mostly de-
stroyej and the woodwork of the door
scorched. Mrs. Fray does not think the
damage to her goods will reach $40. She
ives not insured. Chief kellogg was con-
v-nced that there was no connection he
tween the two fires, and is OF the opinion
that they were the work of an incendiary.
Mr.. Kenyon, the owner of the building,
examined the place yesterday and ex-
pressed a similar opinion.
The fire in the Northwestern hotel,
which is run by W. Morse, did not damage
the building worth mentioning. but at the
same time 1t is the opinion of some of the
inmates that it was purposely started.
For time il was thought there might
be a connection between the fires and the
burglary on West street, but if the latter
took place before o'clock the theory is
exploded.
Chemical No. in running to the FIRE
lost brass cap from the hub of one of the
wheels.
4 small blaze in Stella Hatley's bawdy-
house, in the rear of the St. James hotel,
called out the ire department last night
at ii O'Clock. The house is situated in the
alley between Yesier avenue and Wash
ington street and South Third and South
Fourth streets. \ coal oil lamp which
was being flled caught IRE and an excited
woman seized the burning lamp and threw
II down flight of stairs, where il broke
against the door leading to the street and
blaZed mp IN a threatening manner.
Two men, who were on Washington
street, rushed UP the alley and broke open
the door. The flames were ieaping almost
to the ceiling. The men seized q barrel of
wet ashes, which stood in the alley, and
threw il in the hallway, covering up the
burning lamp and completely putting out
the nre. When the department arrived on
the scene there was nothing for them
10 do.
UNDER MEDICAL TREATMENT.
Condition of Patients at Grace and