A Perilous Ascent on Front Street
A construction worker suffers a violent fall while building a new home, sparking a community health scare in 1870s Seattle.
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.
Mr. L. G. McFarland, a young man in the employ of Mr. W. Hardy, met with a painful accident last Monday morning, while at work on a new residence. He was on a ladder, which was placed against a hay window where he was at work, when he lost his balance, falling backward to the ground and striking the earth with violent force. He was taken immediately to the house, where it was soon ascertained that no bones were broken. It is not certain yet to what extent he was injured, but internal injuries are feared.
“He lost his balance, falling backward to the ground and striking the earth with violent force.”
Workplace safety remains a persistent challenge in Seattle's rapidly expanding construction market. Much like L. G. McFarland’s 1870 fall, modern construction remains one of the most dangerous sectors, with workers often facing similar risks amidst the city's perpetual building boom.
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