Tragic Drowning at the Gas Works
A young immigrant from Illinois dies while attempting to move a raft of timber across the water.
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.
Two or three days ago a young man, probably 20 years of age, named Edwards, arrived here from Illinois, where his parents reside. He was acquainted with Mr. T. Jones, who, in company with his son, is piling a piece of land west of the gas works. To Mr. Jones he applied for work. His friend asked him if he could work about the water without getting drowned. He replied that he was accustomed to water, and was a good swimmer. Yesterday morning he went to work. Mr. Jones told him to go to the mill and bring over a raft of timbers which were there. The young man started, and, it seems, that after floating the timbers for a short distance, fell into the water. His cries for help were heard by Mr. Jasper and other employees at the railroad office, who made all haste to render him assistance, but before help could reach him he sank beneath the flood. Drags were made, and 15 or 20 minutes after the poor fellow disappeared his body was recovered. Drs. Knox and Whitworth were summoned, and did everything in their power to resuscitate the drowned man, but after working over him for more than an hour gave up the task as hopeless. The body was conveyed to the undertaking establishment of O. Schilleatul, where it will be placed in a nice casket and given a Christian burial.
“He replied that he was accustomed to water, and was a good swimmer.”
Accidents involving labor around the waterfront were a grimly routine part of life in 1880s Seattle. The gas works mentioned were located along what is now the north edge of downtown, an industrial area that has long since shifted from timber rafting to corporate offices and condos.
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