Prominent Territorial Pioneer Seriously Scalded at Home
Edwin Eels, the first white child born in Washington Territory, suffered severe burns after a boiler accident at his home.
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.
While assisting his wife with the week's washing Tuesday morning, Edwin Eels, 63 years old, a pioneer of Washington, was badly scalded when a boilerful of water was accidentally spilled on him. Mr. Eels has been confined to his bed since the accident, under the constant care of a physician and a trained nurse. The accident occurred while Mr. and Mrs. Eels were carrying the boilerful of water down the basement steps of their home, 1020 North J street. Just as they had reached the bottom of the flight, Mr. Eels slipped and fell, the entire contents of the boiler splashing over him. Mr. Eels was the first white child born in Washington territory. He is one of the most prominent members of the Pierce County Pioneers' association, of which he has been an officer for several years. His recovery is assured, according to the attending physician.
“Mr. Eels was the first white child born in Washington territory.”
Edwin Eels was a seminal figure in regional history, born at the Eells mission site before Washington was even a territory. His accident—a domestic hazard in a home on North J Street—serves as a reminder of the fragility of life for early settlers in what is now Tacoma's historic North Slope district.
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