The Tragedy of a Carpenter's Decline
A sick and destitute man finds himself unable to keep up union dues as he battles consumption in Seattle.
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.
An effort is being made by some charitable people to send A. Murphy, a carpenter who is very low with consumption, to California or Oregon in the hope that his life may be saved. He lived at St. Vincent, Minn., up to three years ago when he lost all his possessions by a flood and he then came to Seattle. He has been sick nearly a year. He was a member of the carpenter's union, but has been unable to keep up his dues. Dr. W. A. Shannon says it is a very deserving case. He lives on West street opposite the Olympic lodging house.
“He was a member of the carpenter's union, but has been unable to keep up his dues.”
This story highlights the fragility of the labor class in 1890s Seattle, where a single illness or catastrophe could lead to total destitution. Today, while medical care is more accessible, the struggle for housing stability remains a persistent and haunting echo of Murphy's plight.
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