Suspicion Follows Mystery Fire at Boarding House
A fire on Seventh Street has left a landlady distraught and facing public scrutiny, as investigators look for an elusive incendiary.
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.
The fire that was discovered in the basement of the house at 1006 and 1007 Seventh Street early Tuesday morning was, without question, the work of an incendiary. Mrs. Carr, the landlady, and her boarders concur in this belief, though no suspect has been connected to the crime. Reports regarding the state of Mrs. Carr's dress and behavior during the fire led to rumors of her involvement, which she vehemently denies, feeling deeply hurt by the accusations. Mrs. Carr has been prostrated by the shock and remains nervous, while police continue their investigation, expecting to make startling disclosures soon.
“One point, however, is lacking to solve the mystery, and that is who applied the torch.”
The precarious nature of boarding house life, where a single fire could ruin a property owner and displace dozens, reflects the density and instability of housing in early Seattle. Even then, the 'mystery' of the fire quickly devolved into social gossip, much like how modern community speculation often rushes to judgment in the absence of hard facts.
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