The Hotel Fife Arson Plot
Police foiled a coal-oil arson attempt at Tacoma’s Hotel Fife with 150 guests inside; J.L. Lewith was arrested.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A determined attempt was made Monday to burn the Hotel Fife, of Tacoma, and but for the vigilance of the police and private individuals, a frightful holocaust would have to be reported as there were about 150 guests in the hotel. Boxes filled with inflammables and saturated with coal oil had been piled up in the shoe store of J. L. Lewith, on the first floor of the hotel, and fired. Lewith's stock was insured for $11,000 and this in connection with other auspicious circumstances, was grounds for his arrest on Tuesday charged with the crime of arson. The National Bank of Commerce has attached his stock for an indebtedness of $1,000.
“But for the vigilance of the police and private individuals, a frightful holocaust would have to be reported.”
Arson for insurance money was a frequent 'boom and bust' crime in the late 19th century. The protection of downtown historic hotels remains a significant concern in Tacoma's urban preservation efforts today.
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