Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-04-19
ssswxEs n LAKE WASHINGTON

vsur uea HlnA Wasesy Graves. he
vtns. Afyes ssgerisG Alssssa were
Than heath. Survives % Tell the
Story.
A terrible accident occurred on Lake
Washington Last Monday. in which four
men lost their lives. One survived, and
a. be IL an intelligent man, We VIII lat
him tell his own story TO our readers. a.
b related il 70 rs yesterday afternoon.
He said:
NV mama II Chsries johnson; am .
native of Sweden and came from MOI
tana 70 Seattle. vhsse ! arrived two
weeks AGO Last Monday. Ie.ms 70 say
and AftSr remaining IN town Tor tme'
making inquired l learned OF some
good land on Squak ssocgh. naa q
partner named Aaron Lsrseo, VINO atso
came here TO Rstiaud- We found others
that wanted to 60 and look for land, 50
We organized a party OK nye, IS follows;
Aaron johnson, Aaron Larsen, Sonn-
son, q man whose nzme have forgot
tan, and myself. We started for Lake
Washington last Monday. We arrived
as Laurel Shade, or Ac0livra's landing,
where We hired Lost 70 cross the lake
We left the landing at 10 O'Clock, under
sail. A good sti6 breeze Vas blowing
and we were making good time. About
II O'Clock
sQuALL srgrcK THE BOAT
And ak.e capsized, throwing rs all into
the water. We al succeeded in cling
lao to the boat, which We righted, bat
"a ehs vas foil of water and the lake
vas rough, we oeuld do nothing With
hsr. The wind Vas blowing hard, and
the cold water dashing over rs, chilled
as through. Ten minutes after We up
ret
AAROs yoHysoS LET CD,
And sunk beneath the wave, and vas
not afterward sean by any OF as. The
remaining four hung on, hoping aud
PRAYING for something or some one "a
render them assistance, but no help
oans, About an hour after the firsl
man gave up, another Of our party,
THE srRASGKR,
Whose name do not know, released his
grip and slowly sank from mortal view.
But three of a. remained. and every
wave that swept over Us lessened oul
CHANCES for our lives. Ten minutes
after the second one was drowned, my
dear friend and partner
AARON LARSEN
Bid "a good bye forever, and reluctant
| " sank from our view. But two OF ii
nov remained-Johuson and myself
Our hearts had sunk within rs, as w
saw our companions one by one pas
from US, and we, though near at hand
| powerless to lend them a hand or assist
ance. The boat was pitching and tum
| bling, and We were becoming colder anC
| weaker. For an hour We chung ana
fought for our lives. Finally johnson
said 70 me: The next time shs goe
over, I'm gone.
| 100 AND SEE M WIFE,"
His request was cut short by a wav'
which swept him from the boat, and
was left alone, chilled through ant
numb. l only wondered, and waited
| for my time to come, bat determined Il
hang on AZ long ~ my rapidly failin;
strength would permit me to do 80
Hours were like agss, and the impression
made ON my mind during that terrible
day can only be effaosd by death.
stuck to the rolling, tumbling oraft til
four o'clock, when she drifted ashore q
INDIAN GRAVE POINT,
was 80 cold and weak l could no
walk, and no hand was nigh to assis
me. Getting on my hands and knees,
crawled along tho shore for An hour, an,
| by that time was able to stand up an,
| xvownlal an Ace <.sAlrrix - h.
morning, through terrible rough cOun
try till I reached tho homo Of
DOM vORREs.
was there given food and shelter, an,
allowed TO take little nap. On waklnI
/ felt much refreshed, and Mr.. Forbe
scot q man with mo to look for III,
boat, which We found, and returned h
the ewners at Laurel Shade.
When tho boat upset took of m
GOAT, containing $40 in gold, and threw
Il into tho boat, but IL soon washed on
and sunk.
Ny partner had considerable mono,
on him; Just how much | cannot say.
Tho man johnson, who remained O,
the boat with me the longest, has wifi
and family In Seattle. He has beer
here about two years. His last requss
WAS for me to 90 and sec his wife an,
tell her Of his fate, but he drowned be
fore be could tell me whore she lived
and have not been able to find out.
Tho men were all hard workin,
Swetics, and all had money with whicl
to buy land, and expected to sctsle nsaI
Seattle.
Icame in yesterday afternoon and 90
some clothes. ! am still nervous AM
sick At heart"
While relating this story Mr.. Chas
johnson was deeply affected, and tear
streamed down his manly face. II,
goes 70 tho Lake again today to find, i
possible, some trace Of his late oompan
ions.