Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-20
Tacoma Park Threatened BY a Serious
Conaagration.
By THE WINDS
Sparks Flying and the Woods in a
Blaze.
TROUBLE WITH ENGINES

| A fire that threatened for time to wipe
out everything within a radius Of mile
started this afternoon in the east side of
Tacoma, .. C. 1t is feared that the results
of the conflagration will be as serious as
those of the fire that visited this place IN
1893.
The blaze started in the upper portion
of the house In which James Wilson and
James A. Dean reside. at Carroll and Ethen
Allen avenues. They were eating dinner
at the time, ard were startled to hear the
alarm of fire given by some one on the
outside. When they Investigated they
found almost the entire upper portion of
the structure in light blaze. The flames
spread quickly, and when the house had
been about half consumed the house next
door caught and burned down in short
space of tine. This house was occupied
by Arthur Criswell and Thomas Rhine.
AS soon as possible the chemical engine
that is kept at Takoma was turned out,
but it has not been used for SO long that
it was of hardly any use at all. and the
chemical compounds it contained seemed
to have nc effect on the flames whatever.
As soon as this condition of affairs was
noticed the chemical engine at Brightwood
was speedily sent for, and it arrived at
the height of the fire. On the way, how
ever owing to the heavy condition of the
roads, it became stuck, and Mr.. Chas. B.
Graves hitched his horse to it and hauled
1t and the men and boys engaged in trying
to take it, from Brightwood to Takoma to
the fire.
AS soon as means began to be found to
fight the fire another serious obstacle
thrust itself in the way. There has been
no rain for long time. and all the wells
in this vicinity are practically dry. This
condition hampered the efforts of the fire.
fighters to the greatest degree.
The origin of the fire is unknown. The
gale Of wilma which has been blowing all
the morning seemed to gain strength about
the time the fire started, and throughout
the afternoon famed flames and cinders
and sparks this way and that to the great
est terror of all who had property in the
immediate vicinity. great deal of the
effects of the occupants of the two houses
that first caught fire were saved but the
loss on furniture and other like articles
is entire, as there was no insurance on
them. 1t is stated that the two houses
carried insurance.
The chemical from Brightwood arrived
in time to save. for a time at least, the
stable and residence of Jonathan King,
but the direction and velocity of the wind
makes it impossible to say whether any of
the property in the nearby vicinity will be
saved or not. The two houses burned are
owned by Mrs. Quinter.
A handsome Swiss cottage is located
about 100 yards from the fire, and is look
ed upon being liable to be fired by a
spark at any moment. 1t is owned by Mr..
}. n. Faulke, who is a teacher at the
Brghtwood school. The woods around the
burning houses are also burning fercely
and nearly the whole population of Ia
coma, men, women and children, is out
fighting the flames. Beaters are employed
in the woods while little back fires are
being lighted everywhere to stop the pro-
gress of the destroyer.
Under Control.
At 2:45 o'clock the fire was declared to be
under control, and little later the flames
were entirely ;ubdued.