The Man Who Crushed His Hand: A Seaman’s $3,000 Fight for Justice in Seattle
In the early days of Washington Territory, a sailor named Robert Johnson sued a ship’s captain and his vessel after a workplace accident left him permanently disabled. It was one of the first major labor lawsuits heard in the new federal court.
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.
Robert Johnson vs. Bark Cambridge and A. McIntyre — In Admiralty
Whereas a libel has been filed in the District Court for the Third Judicial District of Washington Territory, holding terms at Seattle, on the 8th day of January, 1877, by Robert Johnston, libellant, against the American bark or vessel called the Cambridge, her tackle, apparel and furniture.
Alleging that on the 12th day of June, 1876, at Port Blakely, Kitsap County, Washington Territory, A. McIntyre, master of said vessel, did ship and hire the libellant to serve as able seaman on board said vessel for the period of six months at $35 per month; that on August 12, 1876, libellant became seriously injured whereby his right hand was crushed and wholly and permanently injured, whereby libellant was and in wholly and permanently disabled and entirely incapacitated from ever again following his occupation as a seaman; which injury was caused by the gross and wanton negligence and carelessness of the said A. McIntyre then master of the said vessel.
That no part of his said wages have been paid except $70, and libellant claims $140 for balance of his wages and also the sum of $3,000 damages for said injury, and praying process against said bark or vessel called the Cambridge, her tackle, apparel and furniture, and that the same may be condemned and sold to pay the said demands of the said libellant with costs, charges and expenses.
Now therefore, in pursuance of the motion, under the Seal of the said court, to me directed and delivered, I do hereby give public notice to all persons claiming the said bark or vessel called the Cambridge, her tackle, apparel and furniture, or in any manner interested therein, that they be and appear before the said District Court to be held at the City of Seattle, in the said Third Judicial District of Washington Territory, on the fifth Tuesday of January, A. D. 1877, to wit:— January 30th, 1877, At 11 o'clock in the forenoon of that day provided the same shall be a day of jurisdiction, otherwise on the next day of jurisdiction thereafter) then and there to interpose their claims, Bill make their allegations in that behalf.
Dated this 10th day of January, 1877. CHARLES HOPKINS, U.S. Marshal for Washington Territory.
This 1877 legal notice captures the precarious existence of early Pacific Northwest laborers. Robert Johnson’s lawsuit highlights how dangerous maritime work was in an era before OSHA or workers' compensation, where a single accident could end a career and livelihood. It mirrors modern debates over workplace safety standards and the right of gig-economy or contract workers to seek damages for on-the-job injuries.
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