Tragedy in Old Tacoma Boathouse
A member of the Salvation Army was found dead, ending a life that seemed to possess both discipline and family ties.
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 Christopherson, a Dane, aged 25 years, a member of the Salvation Army, living in a boathouse with Charles Hanson at Old Tacoma, was found hanging dead in the boathouse this morning. Hanson left to go fishing on Christmas, leaving Christopherson $2 for necessaries. When found he had 40 cents in his pocket. He had hanged himself with a window cord and had evidently strangled to death, as his knees were bent to allow the body to swing. His trunk contained much fine clothing and there was evidence of good family connections from letters and belongings.
“His trunk contained much fine clothing and there was evidence of good family connections.”
The discovery of a man living in a boathouse with fine clothes and letters home hints at the hidden struggles of transients during the 1893 depression. It echoes current issues regarding mental health and precarious living situations among vulnerable populations in the city.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.