Death at the Neah Bay Cable Crossing

Several months past, a wire cable car line was built across the river near Neah Bay, and hundreds traveled there daily. This afternoon, while a carriage with eight occupants was near the bluff on the opposite side of the river, the cable broke and the car crashed down toward the water. It is believed the violent motion of the car caused the cable to wrap around it, and when within about 20 feet of the river, it crushed as though it were a shell. One end of the cable struck Oscar Ledgerwood, a prominent young attorney of this city, on the head, killing him instantly. Blood spurted from his wounds, frightening the remaining occupants so badly that they attempted to jump out of the windows into the river, but were restrained by the brakemen. Finally, a tug was secured and anchored directly beneath the dangling car, and the survivors were reached by means of a rope descending hand-over-hand. They were Miss Alice Waddie, Ledgerwood's sweetheart, William Kirby, Fred McRee, O. M. Phillips, C. F. Lewis, and Henry Hatcher. At the coroner's inquest tonight, it was discovered that the cable had been partially severed by an unknown miscreant.