The Tragedy at Washington Foundry
A local machinist is killed on the job, leaving behind a grieving family and a community in shock.
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.
About half-past 5 o'clock Monday afternoon, Mr. H. B. Williams, a machinist employed at the Washington foundry, fell into an incommunicable state while at his work in the machine shop. He was immediately moved to his residence by friends and medical aid was summoned, but in spite of all that could be done for his relief, he died after an hour of terrible suffering. The cause of death is not definitely known, but he was about fifty years of age and had resided at the Washington Foundry. He was to have gone to Bellingham today on business. He leaves a family to mourn his loss, who are in the deepest distress. The funeral will take place Wednesday.
“He leaves a family to mourn his loss, who are in the deepest distress.”
Workplace safety was a massive concern in Seattle's industrial infancy, mirroring today's debates about labor protections in the manufacturing sector. Williams' sudden passing highlights how dangerous daily labor was for tradesmen during the city's early boom.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.