A Violent Encounter at the Ferry
A routine trip to the ferry turned into a violent confrontation when a man lying in wait attacked a local resident.
A Strange Affair—The other day, while Mr. Wm. Duncan, accompanied by his wife and daughter, was on his way to the ferry, he was suddenly set upon by one John Monroe, who had been lying in wait with a loaded gun, and who threatened to take his life. The wife, showing great presence of mind, rushed up, and by giving the daughter the gun and then throwing herself in her husband's arms, prevented the shooting. It is said that wounding was intended.
“The wife, showing great presence of mind, rushed up, and by giving the daughter the gun and then throwing herself in her husband's arms, prevented the shooting.”
This incident of targeted violence in 1860 Steilacoom highlights the volatility of frontier life, where personal disputes could escalate into armed confrontations in public spaces. It reflects the era's lack of formal policing and the reliance on personal intervention to prevent tragedy.
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