A Former Seattle Policeman Fell Between the Logs — and the Tide Took Him Before Anyone Could

Edward Kane, an ex-policeman, was drowned at the Hart Mill Company's mill yesterday forenoon while attempting to bring in a section of spruce logs. No one saw him go down, but his hat and pike pole were found floating on the water near the boom.

J. W. Kerry, the foreman, said he sent Kane about 9 o'clock to bring in some spruce logs which were lying south of the mill. Nothing further was thought of it until noon, when the crew gathered around to eat lunch. Kane was missed, and it was at once supposed that something might have happened to him. A search was made, and resulted in the finding of his hat and pike pole afloat, his coat thrown across a log and his boat tied to the boom. There was evidence of his having stooped over to cut a rope, and he probably fell in head first or backward.

The peculiar fact about the case is that at the time the search was made the tide had run out, so there was scarcely any water for some distance out, but nothing could be found of the body. Mr. Kerry said that at 9 o'clock there could not have been more than four or five feet of water there.

This throws a mystery around the case, and, as Kane was a good swimmer, there is a possibility of his still being among the living, even though the water should have been deeper. There is but one theory consistent with his drowning, and that is that he was hurt in falling and, getting under the logs, was swept along out to deep water by the current before he could recover himself.

Notice of the accident was telephoned to the police station, and from there Coroner Horton was notified. A long search was made for the body, until the rising tide made further search useless. Mr. Kerry had some dynamite taken out last night to make an effort to bring the body to the surface by exploding it.

Kane was well known in Seattle, having served as jailer under ex-Sheriff Cochrane, and subsequently served on the police force. On leaving the police force he drove team for F. W. Woodsman for a long time. He was very industrious, and seldom out of employment. He had been working as boom man for the Hart Mill company for over a month, and Mr. Kerry speaks very highly of him. When Henry W. Bailey, the boy who was drowned near there some time ago, was being buried, Kane was the only man in the mill crew who laid off to attend the funeral, being much affected by the drowning of the boy.

Kane was about 35 years of age and lived at the corner of Eighth and Stewart streets. He was married to Mr. Cochrane's niece, who has been an invalid the past two years. The couple had three children. When Mrs. Kane heard the news of her husband's drowning she was completely prostrated, and it was feared the blow would have a serious effect on her, as she is troubled with heart disease.