Arson Suspected at the People's Theater
A suspicious fire destroys stage scenery at the People's Theater, causing $700 in damage, with staff claiming the blaze was intentionally set.
A fire discovered in the left wing of the People's Theater yesterday morning appears to be the work of an incendiary. Discovered by the day bartender, the flames destroyed a significant portion of the stage scenery before being extinguished by theater staff and the fire department. The damage is estimated at $700, with no insurance coverage. A kerosene can that had been half-full was found empty after the fire. Danny Creelan, the stage manager, stated he would stake his life that the fire was an act of arson. Theater management has declined to name a man seen near the stage shortly before the blaze began.
“If the fire was not the work of an incendiary then appearances are deceiving and circumstantial evidence goes for nothing.”
The People's Theater was a hub of Seattle nightlife in the 1890s. The suspicion of arson reflects the high-stakes and sometimes desperate environment of the city's early variety and theatrical scene, which faced constant pressure from temperance reformers and local authorities.
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