The Tragedy of a Miner’s Search for Work

It was learned yesterday that the body found under the trestle at Black Diamond was that of Daniel Downey, of this city, not A. B. Downey, as first reported. Downey left his wife and three children in a shack on Rose street, six weeks ago last Monday, with the intention of getting work in the mines at Gilman, Franklin or Black Diamond. Since he left nothing has been heard of him, and his family, reduced to destitute circumstances, have been subjects of charity for the county and neighbors. A Post-Intelligencer reporter yesterday found the humble abode of Mrs. Downey and gave her an exact description of the clothes worn by the dead man. They tallied in every respect with those worn by her husband when he left home, and these facts taken in connection with the locality in which the body was found, leaves no doubt of the identity. The family came to Seattle a year ago last June from Pittsburg, Pa., and Downey worked as a laborer for the city and at other jobs he could secure. Previous to going to the coal mines six weeks ago he had been out of work for some time, and the finances of the household were very low. After he left nothing was heard from him, and his wife found herself and three little children without food and nothing but a miserable shack to keep off the cold when the big snow storm set in. Some one reported the case to Sheriff Jim Woolery, who obtained the assistance of County Commissioner Fred Gasch in relieving distress. Food was sent them, and with the contributions of the people in the neighborhood the poor woman has managed to exist. The news of the death of her husband was broken to her by Sheriff Woolery, who saw the account in the Post-Intelligencer. She desires to have the remains brought to Seattle and given a decent burial and then she and her little ones—Lawrence, aged 6, William Lloyd, aged 3, and Florence, aged 18 months—will return to her mother in South Pittsburg, provided she can get the money to take her there.