Arson and Betrayal at the 'Bucket of Blood'
A notorious King Street saloon is at the center of a criminal conspiracy involving insurance fraud and a fractured family business.
John Bryant, a young man who runs the Blue Front saloon on King street, and Richard R. Roeman, known as 'Old Uncle Dick,' were arrested on warrants yesterday charged with arson. On April 4, a fire broke out under suspicious circumstances in the Blue Front saloon, which John and his brother, W. H. Bryant, ran in partnership. An insurance policy was set to expire shortly, and fire investigators found kerosene at the scene. While the loss was minor, the insurance company paid out. Officer A. A. Osborn, whose beat includes the saloon, spent weeks investigating before securing a warrant from the brother, W. H. Bryant. The Blue Front, located in the Blackchapel district, is notoriously known locally as 'The Bucket of Blood.' It is alleged that John Bryant bribed Roeman with $100 to set the fire. Recently, John had fired his brother, leading to a bitter dispute over money, which likely prompted W. H. Bryant to turn informant.
“The Blue Front is about the most notorious saloon in the Blackchapel district. It is sometimes known as 'The Bucket of Blood.'”
The 'Blackchapel' neighborhood and King Street are historical touchstones for Seattle's early nightlife and labor districts. Today, this area is the heart of Pioneer Square, where the 'Blue Front' once stood, reminding us that local criminal histories often leave deeper scars on a city’s geography than the fires that ignite them.
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