Death of a Pioneer Saloonkeeper
A Seattle business figure, known for his pre-fire partnership, passes away at the age of 42.
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.
William McMaster, who is well known in this city, died yesterday morning at the corner of Jackson and South Seventh streets of cancer of the stomach, aged 42. He came here about ten years ago from St. George, N.B., and for a long time previous to the great fire was in partnership with George Lancer in the saloon called 'Lancer & McMaster.' For the last three years he lived on a ranch near Franklin, but came to the city several weeks ago to be treated for the cancer which caused his death. He leaves a wife and children. The funeral services will be held at Bonney & Stewart's chapel tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. The interment will take place in Lake View cemetery.
“For a long time previous to the great fire was in partnership with George Lancer in the saloon called 'Lancer & McMaster.'”
McMaster’s story captures the era of the 'pioneer saloonkeeper,' a common profession in pre-Prohibition Seattle. His death at a corner in what is now the Chinatown-International District reminds us of how quickly the neighborhood demographics shifted after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889.
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