The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-13
TEREDo-RUlNED OCEAN DOCK.
Warehouse Floor Caves, and Men Are
Buried Under Tons of Salmon.
without the Slightest Warning a Chasm
Opens Beneath Them-Four Corpses
and One Dying Man Taken Out--oth-
ers Still In the Wreck.


loading salmon which had been brought
down from the north on the steamer DAN
ube. the floor of the Bernstein shed at the
outer wharf gave way, precipitating a
large quantity of the goods, as we'll as the
unfortunate workmen, into the water.
Something like 5000 cases of salmon had
been brought ashore, in addition to
what was already in the shed,
when all of sudden a depression of the
flooring was noticed, and with a loud
groan the piles we've observed to settle,
crash went some of the stringers and heavy
timbers, and with almost a shrek the
floor parted asunder, carrying the men and
the packing cases into the gulf, which
greedily yawned TO receive them. Several
frightful yells were heard, and in the
waters were seen men struggling, bat
tered, bruised and broken.
st the moment it was hard to say how
many men were missing, but after muster
ing all who were available it was reckoned
that at least i've or six men were among
the victims. Captain Wise at once tele-
phoned to the office of Rithet e. Co., and
post-haste the heads of the firm came to
the scene of operations, while every man
that could be pressed into the service rem
dered willing aid in the work
of rescue. Except for the sound
made by the sufferers as they
were hurled into the abyss, there was no
further noise from the mass of cases piled
up in disorder, while the low converse
ton, and the steady, persistent work of
the men engaged, with occasional instruc-
tions in mufiied, hurried tones given by
those who were directing operations,
showed how grimly in earnest were those
who prosecuted the operations for recover
ing the unfortunate men.
DIR. Jones was early on hand, but as the
body of James Kelly was brought to light
it needed no medical skill to discover that
the spark of life had lied.
News of the terrible fatality speedily
reached the city, and soon the street cars
and cabs came along loaded with excited
people anxious to know the worst, and to
ascertain whether or not their own friends
and acquaintance were among the unfor-
tunates, As poor Kelly was laid on the
wharf along the side of the building hats
were lifted, and in the dim lantern-hght
scores of strong and sympathetic men We'd
with each other in their efforts to dispose
him tenderly and show all possible respect
TO his remains.
Under the lamplight it was easy to see
that the rescue party had no easy task be-
fore them. Owing to the precarious char
acter of the foothold among the boxes and
broken timbers the task was no sinecure,
nevertheless they worked with almost su-
perhuman energy. Case after case was
brought up the gang planks by stalwart
men who, bathed i'll perspiration, bora
f1.as. kt1rI
of the cases of fish were smashed
almost to splinters, giving ample
proof of the shock which had been sus-
tanned by the mass of living humanity
that had been carried down by the catas-
trophe. The flooring had been severed
almost as cleanly as if it had been cut with
an axe or saw, and so sudden had it been
that the men who were rolling in their
barrows or were engaged at the top of huge
piles of cases had not the slightest oppor-
tunity to escape with their lives. Several
men who were otherwise engaged
had the utmost difficulty to get away, the
rush which they made for the shore or for
convenien distance away from the chasm
was remarkable to witness. According to
all accounts there was not the slightest
reason to believe that the door was being
overloaded or that there was such thing
as weak spot in the foundation. Said
one person present:
The floor went with an appalling noise
and terrific shock. The building quivered as
ii it could not fail to fall, but presently almost
Immediately, recovered and then stood almost
as firm ever.
The cause of the casualty is said to be
the terrible teredo, which had absolutely
perforated many of the most important
supports of the structure, which itself had
been most substantially built. The salmon
that was being got out of the Danube at
the time of the accident was principally
from Low Inlet and Skeena river.
Z. Porter, who was an eye witness of the
catastrophe, tells the following story:
There were ten or twelve men working about
minute or so before, but the truckmen had all
gone out at the time the floor gave way. The
men were piling the cases about twenty tiers
high-fifteen is the usual limit-at the back of
the inner shed. Four men were up on the pile
stacking cases, and two were on the floor hand
ing them up. was standing at the side with
truck. One of the men upon the boxes said he
was going for drink of water, and came down
Just as he did so, l heard something creak I
was paralyZed for moment, and then
my truck slipped from me, and as soon
as l could think l sprang away. The others
were helpless, and could do absolutely nothing
to save themselves. The floor seemed to tremble
with the weight on il, and to open just like a
double trap door, only il opened down, and the
salmon commenced to pour down through it,
tons and tons hammeriug down the five men
As soon as | could realize il got the men from
the steamer and those from the quarry. and we
commenced to pull out the eases so a. TO get at
the poor boys. Carlson was the first we found
lie was not dead yet. The Others were buried
fifteen feet deeper under the stacks of salmon
cases.
Sergeants Walker and Langley, with the
police, did much 10 keep back the crowd
during the work of rescue. One by one
the men ere brought to the surface and
pronounced dead, either by drowning or
sUffocation. They were all 'iongshore-
men.
The following bodies have so far been
recovered: Kelly, Fox. Higgins, Johnson
and Carlson. Two others are said to be
still missing. Carlson is at the hospital.
and may recover.
Suits Against Insurance Company Fail.
PORTLAND, Or, Jan. 12.-Some time ago
Charles r. Barnett, OF New York. and sew
erai other stockholders in the Northwest
Fire and Marine Insurance Company. of
this city, filed bill in the United States
circuit court, asking for the appointment
OF receiver for the company. The COM
pany hled an answer and the matter was
argued, resulting in denial. BY permis-
sion the answer was then withdrawn and a