A Community Responds to a Mill Worker's Tragedy
When a worker lost his arm in a gruesome sawmill accident, his coworkers passed the hat to ensure he was cared for.
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.
It will be remembered that last October a man by the name of C. Peterson, while working in the Seattle Lumber and Commercial Company's mill met with a fearful accident, by allowing his wrist to come in contact with a circular saw. For a time it was thought the limb might be saved, but finally the arm was amputated at the wrist. The man has been in the hospital ever since, and a second amputation took place a few days ago. Yesterday Mr. W. Lotka, an employee of the mill, circulated a petition, and in a short time succeeded in raising $100 for the poor unfortunate man, which sum was presented to him last evening. The man was greatly surprised, so much so, in fact, that he could hardly speak. The good people of Seattle never fail to respond liberally when a worthy object of their charity is presented. Mr. Lotka is deserving of credit for his thoughtfulness and trouble in behalf of the unfortunate, suffering man.
“The good people of Seattle never fail to respond liberally when a worthy object of their charity is presented.”
Long before modern workers' compensation laws, injured laborers relied entirely on community charity and 'passing the hat' to survive. This incident highlights the brutal reality of the timber industry and the informal safety nets that sustained workers during the frontier era.
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