Mysterious Death of a Carpenter
A carpenter found sick in a downtown saloon dies shortly after being moved to the hospital, leaving behind only his I.O.O.F. membership and unanswered questions.
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.
John W. White, a carpenter, died at Grace hospital yesterday morning about 10 o'clock under mysterious circumstances. Dr. Sparling thinks that his death was due to opium poisoning, and Coroner Horton will hold an autopsy on the remains this morning. White was taken sick in a saloon at the corner of South Third and Washington streets Monday night, and was taken to police headquarters in the patrol wagon. It was thought he was drunk and he was locked up. Yesterday morning it was found he was sick, and Dr. Sparling was sent for and ordered the man removed to Grace hospital, where he died a few hours later. White was a middle-aged man, and from letters found in his possession it was learned that he was a member of the I. O. O. F. As far as known he has no friends in the city.
“As far as known he has no friends in the city.”
The intersection of 3rd and Washington in Seattle was a hub of transient lodging and saloons in the late 19th century. This story captures the anonymity of working-class men who arrived in Seattle during the boom and faced sudden, lonely deaths without social safety nets.
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