The Boys Who Stowed Away: A Seattle Harbor Adventure
Two young stowaways from the Yakima country were discovered hiding in the coal bunkers of a tugboat bound for Olympia. Rather than turning them away at sea, the captain and crew took pity on the frightened youths, feeding and clothing them until their relieved parents could send a telegram.
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 young stowaways from the Yakima country have exhibited to us specimens of rich-looking gold quartz recently discovered on Pecha Creek, a tributary of the Wenatchee. The vein has been traced three miles; the discoverers are working there and clearing up a good claim.
However, a more human interest story comes from our harbor. Two boys, aged about 14 and 15 years, employed in the U.S. Surveyor General's office, left their parents to go on a voyage of discovery. They boarded the tug 'Hill Wind' while it was loading coal at the wharf, hiding in the bunkers among the coal dust. When the tug started for Olympia, they remained concealed until outside the Golden Gate, where the sea was too rough to lower a boat or pull them out.
The captain, Captain Gray, eventually discovered them. Instead of turning them back into the stormy waters, he took pity on their plight. He found a telegram awaiting him from their parents, who were deeply frightened and instructed him to take good care of the boys and provide them with clothing and necessities. The boys have fallen into good hands and will be made to enjoy this long voyage as much as possible under the circumstances. They can now doubtless appreciate the sentiments of the song 'Home Sweet Home.'
In an era before child labor laws or strict boarding regulations, it was not uncommon for young boys to run away or seek adventure on the waterfront. This story highlights the surprisingly compassionate side of maritime life in 1878 Seattle; rather than treating stowaways as criminals or burdens, the crew acted as surrogate guardians, a stark contrast to the harsh realities many immigrant children faced in industrial cities.
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