A Kerosene Lamp Burns Olympia's Only Good Hotel to the Ground

From a gentleman who arrived from the capital city last evening, we learn the following particulars concerning the burning of the Carleton House, at Olympia. The house stood on a lot facing the Sound, on Columbia street, between Third and Fourth. It was built in 1871 by John Clarke for his family residence, and was a remarkably substantial structure. About the time of its completion Mr. Clarke died, and George Carleton, a printer, and John Van Wormer formed copartnership and opened the house as a hotel. It changed hands quite often, till about a year ago, when Grover Culver, a young man at one time in the employ of Toklas & Singerman, went to the capital city, leased the building, and has carried on the business ever since. Monday evening, about 7:30, a lamp hanging in the hall upstairs exploded and fell to the floor. The house was soon in flames. The alarm was given and all the churches dismissed their congregations, and in a few minutes several hundred citizens were surrounding the building. The engine company and a bucket brigade succeeded in preventing the spread of the flames to other buildings. Most of the furniture on the first floor was saved. The total loss is estimated at $10,000. The building was insured for $2,500, in favor of Mrs. John Clarke. The burning of the building is a calamity to the town, which at best was meagerly supplied with hotel accommodations. A few slight accidents occurred. Mr. Culver had one of his hands burned, and Mr. T. N. Ford was knocked down by a falling timber, but escaped without serious injury.