The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-10-12


State Of Washington for u Capitol.
Speci1i Dispatch to the Post-Intellgence
TACOMA, oct. 1l.-At I o'clock tonight
fire was discovered IN the Tacoma Land
Company's unfinished hotel. the largest
and most suh.st3 ntial hotel structure in the
state. and az 10 p, m. nothing but the
MASSIVE foundation and b.ackened walls
OF pressed brick were left standing. The
plans and estimates of the building com
piete meant the expenditure of S,51001.
and a. 1t stood the building had cost in
labor and material between S41o go and
500 60 The fire was undoubtedly Of in
cendiary origin
With the past month three costly build
ings owned by the land company have bean
wiped out BY fire. The first IRE was the
exposition building: then came the Taco
ma Wooen Mills. in which the company
was part owner. There vas no insurance
carried On the hotel building. ana shortly
after the appointment OF receiver, not
long since, the night watchman employed
there was dismissed.
Projected on Magnificent Scale.
Work on the MASSIVE and handsome
building, which was to have been known
tie Hotel Olympic, was first begun in
1881. a few months prior to It's being
started c. Il. Wr.gat president, and other
LAND company officers came here 10 select
a site for the building. Several locations
were considered. the choice finally falling
10 Cliff avenue between North First and
North Second. The building stood on the
cliff overlooking the bay, occupying a
space about 800 by $40 feet. and was con-
structed on magnificent lines throuEhou
Architect william Hewitt. of Philadelphia.
drew the plans and superintended the early
construction.
During 1912 the work was pushed the
stone foundations alone having cost about
S.0G0 The brick used in the walls Were
made in Lincoln. Cal and were Of the
japanese variety. During 1892 affairs went
wrong w.ih The company. and construc-
tion was stopped The next year, how
ever the local management engaged me-
chanics and laborecs VINO were indebted to
the company for real estate and worked
them on the building. crediung them with
the labor thus performed. In this way
the building was partially rooted and
closed against the weather.
Set on Fire Inside.
In the interior were stored finishing
lumber. shingles ti!ing and fancy brick
in such quantity as would be needed TO
finish the structure. The fire started in
ths material and II is asserted that when
the fire engine arrived a hydrant was
found plugged with dirt.
The hotel overlooked the big Northern
Pacific coal hunkers. docks and terminal
grounds At the water front two steam
boats were engaged % throw water or the
bunkers and surrounding buildings To pre-
vent the fire from spreading from the burn
ing building.
W s Fcldman, fireman o- Company No
). was badly bruised by being struck hy
4 falling corulce and knocked from a lad
der 10 The ground He was conveyed 70
the hospital for treatment. HIS injuries
are not Eerinus.
Would Have Reeu Completed Soon.
During the past three years it was
known Jbe land company was trying TO
fndlce me Northern Pacific railroad man
aFenout to complete the hote.. but f3y
some reason the 6sal vas not co1surn-
mated. Taa hotel Was looked upon IS ore
e1 the early future necessities. ard II WAS
cons terel tu; a mater ~ a short time
wren Sc wot,a be finished !. was an open
secret that he frs. material move IN the
guarantee of q r1i~oa3 - Mount Rainier
would meaa the completion os tha ho.al
t. accommodate tAe tourist travel
The ses.-tictio- II The building Is a Slow
60 tha people in na-a ways thaa one. aI-