The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-13
Verdict of the Coroner's jury
on Elliott Block Fire.
AID FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES.
Victims OF the Fire Toll Of the Two
boys Fste-Tanner's Former Eel.
low-Workmen Help Him.

ice jackson watched the proceedings.
Oflcer +. ]. Crandall testified to seeing
the flames from Yesler avenue and Elev-
enth street about 2:l5 o'clock in the morn
ing. He went to the fire, found the Elliott
block nearly destroyed, saw Mrs. Elliott
and her son in their night clothes on the
street and helped to carry Mrs. Elliott
into house.
J. Il. Clarke testified that he lived close
oy the burned building and was awakened
by his wife, who told him it was on fire.
About II O'Clock he saw light burning in
room which he supposed to be the one
occupied by the boys who persisted. The
lire was coming from the vicinity of that
room.
Ralph N. Elliott. SON of the owner of the
building, swore that he and his mother
mad been spending the evening at R. F.
Wlnchel's and got home at IL 80. They
occupied one room in the destroyed build
ing. His mother Immediately went to
ped, but he went to the basement first He
does not know whether or not he had q
cigar, but he had no light. He might
have thrown the stump of cigar away
while in the basement. Both he and his
mother were in bed before midnight.
Milton Tanner, the father of the burned
children. testified that the fire came from
the basement. He then told the story of
the fire and of his efforts to save the two
children and of his own and his wifes
and two younger children's escape. The
children slept in the third room from his.
He had been sick for two weeks and when
the children came in on Wednesday even
ing they asked him if he were tired. He
told them he was and they had better go
to bed. Earle remarked that it was pretty
early to go to bed. His wife, however,
put them to bed and then brought the
lamp into the kitchen. 1t was not Gus
tomary to leave lamp in the children's
room when they were in bed. After he
got out Of the building the first person he
saw was Mrs. Goodale. He saw who he
supposed was Ralph Elliott at the oppo-
site end of the building, in a long night
shirt. but he could not positively
identify him. He did not see Mrs.
Elliott. He supposed the building
was now worth about $1,000; it could
be built for that sum now. 1t
was les feet long aud forty -four feet wide,
with rooms 9x1S feet. The boards of the
basement were not close together, and the
flames worked through between them. On
the west side of the basement were bins
for wood. and the one used by the Elliotts
was fenced off and had some lumber in it.
The boys room was only nine feet from
the ground, but he could not get to it for
the flames. The window was broken and
flames were coming through it. He had
no idea where the flames originated; it
was we'll under way when he awoke.
Mr.. Tanner gave his evidence in
CIV ri Toll 80
his boys death without any signs of emo
ton except an occasional tremor in his
voice, but he was evidently keeping his
feelings under strong restraint. He was
the last witness, and the jury then retired.
After rather long deliberation the follow
ing verdict was brought in:
We, your coroner's jury to inquire into the
death of Earle and Vernon Tanner find they
came to their death by being burned in the
building known as the Elliott house on the
morning OF August II, 1892 Cause of fire I'M
known. ROBERT GooDHUN, Foreman.
H. G. ODELL
J. X. LONswAY.
J. B. BARBER
+. r. CLARK.
CIV HAPG0oD
The Tanner family is still at the home
of Mrs. Tanners mother, at Fourth and
Battery streets. Mr.. Tanner said yester-
day that he would go to work again next
week, but he will not be able to make a
home for himself again without assistance.
Mr.. Goodale and his wife and daughter
are still at Benjamin Craig's, on McClaire
street, but hope to find permanent place
of abode in a day or two. Mr.. Goodale
yesterday secured employment and will
begin work on Monday. B. Lynch, who
o1s hrr 10 hpir Oh
is working on the Clancy building on
confined to her bed by the burns on her
feet. Her daughter, Miss May Elliott,
was with her yesterday, having come from
Everett on Thursday evening.
The fund for the relief of the Tanner
family was materially enlarged yesterday,
and now amounts to STATS. The Posi-
INTELLIGENcER, realizing that the Goodales
are in need Of aid to set them up in house.
keeping again almost as much as the Tan
ners. has given $25 to the fund which it
desires to raise for. both families. The sad
circumstances under which the Tanners
were burned has evidently concentrated at
tention on them, for all the subscriptions re-
ceiyed yesterday were for them. A note
worthy feature Of the affair is that those
who are most ready in coming forward
are the people who know Tanner person
ally. He at one time worked for the
Rainier Power & Railway Company, and
]. NJ. Wolfe, another of the employees, who
knows him as a worthy industrious man,
no sooner heard of his misfortune than he
took a subscription paper around among
the employees. ID. T. Denny, president of
the road, headed the list with $40, and all
the men gave willingly until total of
5000 was made up. A lady offers to
donate hats and bonnets to the family, if
they are needed. The list of cash SUBJ
scriptions is as follows:
FOR THE TANNER AND GooDALE FAMILIES.
The Posi- -............... Us 90
FOR THE TANNER FAMILY.
Previously reported SO 80
Cakn 10000. '..''-'.- .'-'-'"-'. w
+ K McIaren Observation-Disclosures. / co
Cash OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. ~ 90
Ralph f. 1smon.. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES S'
Alton l. lsrnou. -
EMPLOYEES OF the Rainier Power Rail-
way Company tSSo.5o):
n It Denny ............. 10 90
i NJ Wolfe Observation-Disclosures. z 90
! n Wedding ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 90
: Eek OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 90
" G. Dick inson NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 2 90