Old Town Lumber Mill Reduced to Ash

At a loss of $75,000, covered by $40,000 insurance, the entire plant of the Puget Sound Lumber company on the waterfront, north of Old Town, was burned to the ground last night. The destruction of the large saw mill plant brought out more urgently than ever the need for a fire-boat for Tacoma's harbor. The blaze was seen about 9 o'clock by a night watchman, but it had already gained such headway that the mill's apparatus was of no use, and an alarm was turned in immediately. When the fire department had arrived, however, the fire had assumed such proportions that Chief McAlevy directed his men to saving the adjacent mills and stacks of cut lumber rather than waste their energy on the main fire. As far as can be learned, the fire originated near the band resaw in the center of the mill. Responding voluntarily to the plight of the waterfront, the Tacoma Tug Barge company went to the scene and aided greatly in preventing the spread of the flames. Chief McAlevy stated today that the average pressure for the waterfront main is 160 pounds, but that last night the pressure did not exceed 60 pounds. The matter has been reported to Commissioner McGregor.