Canoe Capsizes on Lake Washington
Two men were rescued by a passing steamer after their canoe was swamped by high winds near Madrona Park.
The high wind on Lake Washington yesterday afternoon did not deter many pleasure seekers from venturing on its waters in sailboats and rowboats, and the day being exceptional, the lake was dotted with a small fleet of all kinds and sizes. Among these was a canoe in which James Peterman and a companion, whose name could not be learned, were paddling, evidently secure in their ability to handle the small craft. At about 5 o'clock, and when between Medina and Madrona Park, an extra gust of wind from the north struck the canoe broadside, and before its occupants could head her up, she filled and capsized, leaving the two men floundering in the water. They clung to the upturned boat and, fortunately for them, attracted the attention of the steamer Quickstep, which came to their relief but not before the men were nearly exhausted. They were brought to shore and were soon all right. No other mishaps happened to mar the pleasures of the day.
“An extra gust of wind from the north struck the canoe broadside, and before its occupants could head her up, she filled and capsized.”
Lake Washington remains a central recreational hub for Seattle, though the vessels have changed from canoes to high-speed powerboats. The stretch between Madrona and Medina is still subject to sudden, dangerous wind gusts that catch modern paddlers off guard just as they did in 1895.
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