The Day the Boardwalk Burned: Seattle’s Most Audacious Arson Attempt
On a quiet April afternoon in 1900, an arsonist tried to torch the home of Judge E. H. Scott on Yesler Way. A brave housekeeper fought back with a poker, saving her employer and thwarting the fire.
An attempt was made yesterday afternoon to burn the residence of Judge E. H. Scott on Yesler Way near Jefferson Street. During the afternoon Miss Everett thought she heard some noise in the house. She went upstairs to investigate and found a man rushing out of the front door. The house was searched, and behind a sofa a paper was found containing some old rags which were used as an incendiary device.
The police are searching for the suspect, who is believed to have fled the scene after being discovered by Miss Everett.
This incident highlights the volatile nature of early Seattle’s legal and social landscape, where personal disputes could escalate into violent property crimes. Today, such an event would likely be covered as a domestic disturbance or hate crime depending on the motive, but in 1900, it was reported as a sensational local oddity, underscoring the lack of modern security and the reliance on individual bravery in emergency situations.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.