Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-04-10
FATAL FALL
Three Men Thrown from a
High Scaffold Through
Carelessness
Two Marshals allow a Prisoner
Charged with Murder
to Escape
Citizens Indignant as the Es-
cape Looks very much
Like Bunkum"


7p''ldl lb the htidlu.
SEATTLE, April accident occurred
at 1870 O'Clock thi, afternoon which wa,
attended with serious results and ma,
cost the life of one man. 4 plank had
been rugged is a Scaiiold on Railroad
avenue. at the foot Of Washington street
and three men were ON il. two of whom
were engaged In hauling rail, and iunb
from the debris under the wharf. Will,
the work. The plank ~cafiold had been
rugged i'm such manner that the end ut
it projected over the railroad track. a
fact which was thought nothing of until
a train. consisting of four or five box ear,
and switch engine, No. 2u2, was obscry
ed backing down To the place where the
men were at work. \ cry of warning ap-
priSrd them Of the danger and "a number
of voices cried ont for the engineer to re-
verse his engine. but he did not under
stand until il was too late tu de- ~. The
rear box ear struck the plank uu which
the men We're standing and swinging
around, causing them to be- prccipitated
Violently into "A heap of junk. bricks and
debris twenty feet below. One of the
men. whose name could not be- learned.
escaped injury beyond a few bruises.
while his fellow workman. Pete Johnson.
who jumped just aS the train struck the
board, landed heavily ON his right leg.
breaking both bones. half way between
the ankle and knee. The fracture from a
hurried examination, appeared 10 be a
bad one. as the bones had been pushed
through the flesh TO the surface OF the
leg. Gus Anderson. who was sitting on
the board when 10 was struck hy the
train, fell on his chest and IL Is thought a
number of his ribs are broken although
no examination wa made at the time.
johnson was taken to the Providence
hospital Anderson va, taken 10 his
brothers house. number of bystanders
censuTed the railroad engineer, for not
stopping the engine as he was told 10 do.
They blame him for the accident and are
very indignrnt that he should disregard
their warning cries.
Late last night james johnson, who
stabbed William Ray. at Ballard.
made two on three breaks for liberty. the
last one proving successful. II was re-
ported early Ia the evening that Rays
chances for life were exceedingly small
and fearing the consequences ul his act.
johnson determined to r~cap'. Deputy
Marshall Mann aud deputy. were iu the
L
ON Ballard avenue. cunyorsing with the
prisoner. WhUsc handouts had been taken
off. " hen suddenly johnson jumped bp
and made % break for the front part
OF the house. which is used As
butcher shop. The doors We're heavily
barred. aud being unable to get the bars
down. he began Kicking ont the panel, ui
the door. BY this time Two watchmcu
were upon him aud a desperate struggle
cnsued. johnson fought like ticcr aud
being almost craZrd with excitement
which lent him additional strength. shook
off the watchman and wheeling around
started for the kitchen. The movement
was 50 sudden that the Watchmen were
taken completely by surprise aud before
they realized what had happened The
prisoner was in the kitchen aud had
| slammed the door in their faces. He i'm
mediately turned the key in the lock and
1 the Watchmcn We're now prisoners with
/ no chance Of escaping for several minutes
/ The kitchen door was locked and J0hsol
was heard tu jump against il but failed
| to break il down. The kitchen window
was open and it was through this, that
/ he made his escape llurricdly Wnharinl
| the front doors the Watchmen rushed oul
| into the street but johnson had mad,
good use of his slight start and now herr
could be- seen. The alarm was quietly
given and posse was organized ant
started in search Of him. hut h'
/ had disappeared completely. II
I improbable that hc will be- at large fuI
any length Of time. a. a perfect de>crip
| tion has been given and every avenue o
escape been guarded. The citizens o
Ballard are very indignant that Johnsoi
should have been allowed to escape an'
strongly condemn the action Of the oili
cials In conlining any one charged viii
50 serious an oticnsc in the small building
aud without being handcuilcd. The uni
verSal opinion is. that he should hav
been brought into seattle and confined il
the county Jail 10 await the result @
RAYS injuries some more hot hcadc'
than the rest. stated that the entire ailai
looked suspicious aud that il looked un
reasonable thata man like johnson. coul'
overpower two able bodied men lik
Marshall Mann and his deputy and open
lv assert their belief that these men di
not lose anything by the escape. John
son is - years Of age. feet 10 incho
high. Has dark hair. light brown eye
left one being blackrned. VIM. Ray, th
injured man Is not out Of danger and II
feared his Injuries NAV result fatally.