Fatal Accidental Shooting at Friday Harbor
A fireman aboard the revenue cutter 'Grant' dies after a gun mishandled by a shipmate discharges.
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.
Port Townsend, Feb. 22—Revenue cutter Grant, Lieutenant Munter in command, has returned from Friday Harbor with the body of fireman W. L. Sayre aboard. Sayre was killed at Friday Harbor Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock. The killing was accidental. According to Lieutenant Munter, the boat was lying at Friday Harbor at its usual place of tying up and three of his men, seaman Price, coal passer Goebel, and fireman W. L. Sayre, were looking for ducks and were using a Winchester. The rifle was in the hands of Goebel, he and Price being located forward on the upper deck. Sayre had gone below for something to eat and had returned and was standing at the foot of the stair leading to the pilot house. Goebel had the gun cocked, and when he started to raise it, it went off, the ball passing to the upper back part of Sayre's head and out through his mouth.
“Goebel had the gun cocked, and when he started to raise it, it went off.”
Industrial and maritime accidents were a common cause of death in the early 20th century. This report captures the stark, factual style of period journalism reporting on sudden, tragic loss.
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