The Unpaid Labor of the 'Lone Fisherman'
When the owner of a small steamer failed to pay his shipwrights, they took to the courts to reclaim their wages.
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.
In the District Court of the Third Judicial District of Washington Territory, holding terms at Seattle, in King county. No. 4351. Alexander Allen and Nicholas Brazen, as partners under the firm name of Allen & Brazen, libellants vs. the steamer Lone Fisherman, respondent. Whereas, a libel has been filed in the above-entitled Court on the 9th day of March, A.D. 1885, by Alexander Allen and Nicholas Brazen, against the steamer Lone Fisherman, her boiler, engines, boat, tackle, apparel and furniture, alleging, in substance, that between November 15th, 1884, and January 1st, 1885, said steamer being in need of repairs, said libellants, at the special instance and request of S. H. Willey, who was during all of the said time the owner of said steamer, furnished necessary materials for, and did necessary work and labor upon said steamer to make her seaworthy, and that said materials furnished and work and labor done were and are reasonably worth the sum of eighty-four dollars, no part of which sum has ever been paid and praying process against the said steamer, her boiler, engines, boats, tackle, apparel and furniture, and that said steamer be condemned and sold to pay such claim, with costs and expenses. Now, therefore, in pursuance of the monition, under the seal of said court, I do hereby give public notice to all persons claiming the said steamer, that they be and appear before the said District Court, to be held at Seattle on Monday, the 6th day of April, 1885.
“Said libellants... furnished necessary materials for, and did necessary work and labor upon said steamer to make her seaworthy, and that said materials furnished and work and labor done were and are reasonably worth the sum of eighty-four dollars.”
In 1885, Seattle shipwrights used maritime law to secure unpaid wages from a small business owner. Today, the city’s complex landscape of independent contractors and gig workers often faces similar struggles with wage theft, reminding us that the fight for fair compensation is as old as the city itself.
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