A Suspicious Drowning off Vashon Island
A fisherman dies in a boat under curious circumstances, leaving his companion to answer for his suspicious behavior.
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.
Maldore Brown, a fisherman, was drowned this morning before daylight near Vashon Island. Brown lost his balance while changing his position in a boat and fell overboard. His companion, Charles Holdstorm, claimed he caught the body as it came to the surface and towed it to the shore. An inquest will be held because of the peculiar circumstances. Holdstorm stated they left Old Tacoma about 7 o'clock, both being under the influence of liquor and well stocked with bottles. Holdstorm says it was some time before he discovered Brown's absence, and when he returned, he found the body floating. This delay is considered strange.
“Holdstorm says it was some time before he discovered Brown's absence and when he returned he found the body floating. This is considered strange.”
Accusations of intoxication and negligence leading to death on the waters of the Puget Sound were frequent in 19th-century maritime reports. The 'mysterious' nature of this death on the water is a recurring theme in the history of the Sound's working-class maritime life.
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