A Local Boy’s Dangerous Encounter with a Pet Raccoon
A young newsboy known as 'Pud' loses a finger after a rough encounter with a captive raccoon.
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.
'Pud,' son of ex-policeman Stewart Hickie, of 1432 Washington street, and the leader of the newsboys' strike two years ago, lost the forefinger of his left hand yesterday in a peculiar manner. He was playing with a coon, and did something to arouse the animal's anger. Without counting the consequences, he put his finger near its mouth, and with a snap the sharp teeth closed down just above the second joint. 'Pud' pulled one way and the coon jerked the other, which resulted in a complete but rather jagged amputation. Dr. James Shannon was called, and after administering chloroform, completed the job in a scientific manner. 'Pud' was selling papers at the corner of Yesler avenue and South Second street last evening, as usual, but refused to talk about his encounter.
“'Pud' pulled one way and the coon jerked the other, which resulted in a complete but rather jagged amputation.”
Beyond the bizarre nature of the accident, the mention of the newsboys' strike provides a rare glimpse into the early organized labor activities of Seattle's youth in the late 19th century.
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