Tragic Logging Accident at Skamokawa
A well-known logger is crushed to death by a falling fir tree in plain view of his crew.
At Barnard's logging camp at Skamokawa this morning, James Snodgrass, 40 years of age, was crushed into a shapeless mass before the eyes of his mates. The men had a large fir tree cut through in readiness for falling when Snodgrass ran across its path to take his saw and wedges out on the opposite side. Before he reached them, a puff of wind severed the tree, which came down on top of the unfortunate man, tearing his body to pieces and burying it several inches in the ground. Snodgrass was a well-known logger, having worked at the business in this vicinity for several years.
“A puff of wind severed the tree, which came down on top of the unfortunate man, tearing his body to pieces and burying it several inches in the ground.”
Workplace safety in Washington's logging industry has evolved significantly since the 1890s, yet the inherent dangers of the woods remain a persistent reality for timber workers. Today, strict OSHA and state regulations govern logging, but the story of Snodgrass serves as a stark reminder of the human cost that built the Pacific Northwest's economy.
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