The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-05
MRS. CARR AT HOME.
Incendiary Fire at Her House
Frustrated Her.
AROUSED BY HER BoARDEas.
Nothing but Surmiscs as to Who APP
piled the Torch to tho Pile
Of De bris.

The fire that was discovered in the basement
OF the house at 1905 and 1907 Seventh street
early Tuesday morning and pronounced suspi-
cious by the fire department officials and the
detective who was detailed on the case, was
without question the work OF an incendiary.
Mrs. Carr, the landiady, every boarder in the
house, the servants, police officials and men,
bers the fire department. concur in this be-
lief. One point, however, is lacking to solve the
mystery, and that Is who applied the torch.
The investigation so lar has, to- all outward APP
pearances, Jailed to connect in q tangible man.
ner any person with the crime. Many theories
have been advanced, but not one deals with
facts as being seen and open for verifcstion.
In the report of the affair printed in the
PosT-INTELLIGE NICER yesterday morning H. A.
BeEson, Dr. George Horizons father-in-law, was
reported as saying that q short time before the
fire was discovered he heard some one go out of
Mrs. Cars room and later re-enier. Dr.. Horton
said yesterday that he was in the room when
Mr.. Benson was talking and he was positive no
reference was made TO any PERSONS room in
special. AS he remembered the conversation, it
ran as follows: Same time before the FIRE was
discovered Mr.. Benson was awakened by a
noise in the hall. He listened and became sure
he head person walking, and to the best of
his knowledge the footsteps led to the closet
Then the person went to the rear of the build
ing and tried some doors. What doors he was
house and waited for him to try bis door, but
this did not occur.
Then, again." said Dr.. Horton, sit was said
that when Mr.. Benson went to arouse Mrs. Carr
he found her already dressed. Mr.. Benson did
not call her or say anything about how she was
dressed don't know who called her, but from
the racket that was going on do not think
there was necessity OF any calling"
The observation-disclosures did not say that Mrs.
n n wi ho fra
nor did it intend to insinuate az much. lnves-
tgation shows that Mrs. Carr did not get out of
her bed until after she was aroused by Mr. AL
bertson knocking on the door OF Dr. Horton aud
Informing him that he believed the house was
on fire. She then jumped out OF her bed and in
her nightclothes went to the room and wakened
the two servant girls. Hastily returning she
threw q waterproof over her nightdress and in
that condition and barefooted went and aroused
Mr.. Benson. Instead of being unable to be
seen since the fire she has remained at home all
the time. Mrs. Horton and her father, MrsBen-
son, and the Rev. W. G. Eliot, jr., ate their
breakfast with her the morning OF the fire. Mr.
Eliot likewise had his lunch there the same day.
The fright and shock Frustrated Mrs. Carr and
rendered her very nervous, and she has been
confined to her room ever since until yester-
day afternoon late, when she went out for tue
first time.
The additional policy of $3.50 which Mrs
Carr took out was upon her wearing apparel
This was done Immediately alter one of her
boarders, Mr.. Frank Bell, had by accident
come nearly firing the house. Mr.. Bell. after
the accident and the narrow escape, went him.
self and took out a policy OF about 5000 upon
his own personal effects This is the reason of
Mrs. Cars taking the additional policy. She
paid 81, $50 for the furniture in her building
me was still owing upon it, and the policy was
yable to her MORTGAGE as her interest might
appear.
Mrs. Carr is rendered nervous AMI Frustrated
from the fight and the shock of the fire, and
feels very deeply hurt over what she oonceives
to be wrong done her by the publication in
this paper OF yesterday morning. She appears
70 be as anxious as any person to ascertain the
name of the incendia1y. She feels certain, as the
police and fremen feel that it was the work of
an inceudiary.
The checks with her name upon them found
in the basement. she says, were by some person
taken out OF box where they were stored with
her books in the basement
The police are still working on the case and
expect to make some startling disclosures