A Fatal Tiller Blow on the Sound
A pioneer fisherman faces manslaughter charges after a tragic, unintended killing of a close friend.
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 Dye, one of the pioneer fishermen of Puget Sound, while trying to quell the pugilistic inclinations of Harry Bendick, another fisherman, struck him on the head with a heavy tiller. The injured man died this morning of hemorrhage of the brain, and probably Dye will be held on a charge of manslaughter. The prisoner is owner of the little sloop Annie, which was gained by toil and economy. The men had always been the best of friends, and both were considered honest, hard-working fellows.
“The men had always been the best of friends, and both were considered honest, hard-working fellows.”
This reflects the volatile, high-stakes nature of the early maritime economy in Puget Sound. Today, labor disputes or interpersonal conflicts on the water are managed through different legal frameworks, but the isolation and intensity of life on a fishing vessel remain a thread in the region's history.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.