The Tragic Death of John Curran
A laborer crushed in a freak accident while driving a rock-laden cart through South Seattle.
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 Curran, in the employ of the Kootsk Coal Company, was driving a cart heavily loaded with rock across Market street, near the furnace, about 6 o'clock on the evening of the 28th ult., when the jar of the wheels striking the cable road track threw him from his seat. He fell between the shafts and one of the wheels struck him in the back, stopping the horse. The animal was started forward, but was again checked by the prostrate form. Before assistance could be rendered the horse had pulled the cart on to the unfortunate man three times, but the load was so heavy that it would not roll over. Sergeant McDermott took Curran to the city receiving hospital, but before his arrival life was extinct. Dr. Dennis, on examination, found that the backbone was broken and the body internally injured.
“Before assistance could be rendered the horse had pulled the cart on to the unfortunate man three times.”
Accidents involving heavy machinery and industrial labor were common in a rapidly growing, regrading Seattle. This incident on the streets near the old furnaces reminds us of the human cost paid to build the modern city's infrastructure.
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