A Perilous Rescue on the Duwamish
A father and son were saved by a quick-thinking local man after their skiff capsized in heavy winds, nearly costing them their lives.
T. J. Green, of the firm of Green & Eubanks, had a narrow escape from death and a severe drenching yesterday morning. He started in a small boat from near Seattle and off the Duwamish, but they were met by a strong wind that was blowing. Mr. Green and his son climbed on the overturned craft and drifted toward the main channel. Their cries attracted the attention of people at Georgetown. A boat was manned by W. L. Johnson, who rowed to their rescue, which was accomplished with much exertion and gallantry. Neither was hurt, though both Mr. Green and his son were chilled and they were feeling the cold of the water. They proceeded on their way to Seattle yesterday.
“Their cries attracted the attention of people at Georgetown. A boat was manned by W. L. Johnson, who rowed to their rescue, which was accomplished with much exertion and gallantry.”
While the Duwamish River is now a heavily industrialized waterway, this 1892 account of a simple water-transit accident highlights how integral the river was to early Seattle's daily life and travel—and how precarious that life could be.
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