The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-30
KILLEDIN THE WOODS
A Flying Branch Fractures a
Section Hands Skull.
WELL-KNOWN MAN IN THE CITY.
John Naughton Meets Sudden Death
Near Terrence-The Body Brought
Home by His Comrades.

John Naughton. section hand on the
Seattle. Lake Shore d Eastern railroad,
was killed by Z branch of falling tree
at I2:oo O'Clock yesterday afternoon, half
mile east of Terrence.
John Naughton and about thirty other
men, IN charge of John Caufeld, boss of
section No. 8, have been working for ten
days day and night repairing and clearing
the track. They reached Gilman Monday
night and yesterday came up the road to
washout between Terrence and Bothell.
The men were divided into three gangs,
one To cut down timbers. gather up rock,
dirt and material used in filling, another
10 transport it to the wsshout about half
mile distant and the last TO place the ma
terial in position.
Naughton and two other men were de-
tailed to cut down a tree. Naughton's
two companions did the saving, while he
did the underwriting on the opposite side.
When the wedges were put in and the tree
was felled. Naughton miscalculated the
direction in which it would fall. Though
he escaped the trunk, one of the limbs
struck another tree, was broken off, snap
ped back and came to the ground like
shot. Naughton was directly in its path
head, little to the right. He dropped
instantly, the blood squirting over his face
and shoulders.
Some of his companions ran to his side
and spoke TO him, but received no answer.
They felt his pulse and found faint throb.
A handcar was near, on which the men
made bed of their coats and laid Naugh-
ton down. When Caufeld and his men
were reached they joined the party, full
of grief. The handcar was moved toward
Bothell as fast as possible, but on the way
Naughton breathed his last, without hav-
ing regained consciousness.
At Bothell DR.. r. l.. Chase made an ex-
animation and found that the skull had
been fractured. The remains were
brought to the city on the Sno.
qualmie train, which was two hours late.
At the depot Coroner Horton took charge
of the body and had it removed to Bonney
81 Stewards undertaking rooms. After
hearing the testimony of those acquainted
with the facts of the case and proceeding
with his examination of the remains, he
decided that an inquest was unnecessary.
and signed certificate that death was ac
cidentaI.
John Naughton had lived in Seattle and
vicinity for about six years. He came
from Syracuse. n. Y, where he has
family relatives. Whether or no his par
ents are alive is not known, but several of
his friends state that he has mentioned hav-
ing two brothers. Before coming TO Seattle
he lived a short time in California. He
was known as an honest, Industrious fell
low, and was member of Queen City
Lodge, No. 10, Knights of Pythias. He
went to work on the road about two weeks
ago, and previous to that roomed in the
Shorey house, corner Columbia and Third
streets. with P. Smith. During the years
he has lived in Seattle he has accumulated
property of considerable value, including
lots in the Renton and Brooklyn ad
ditions.
His brothers in Syracuse, Y. Y, were
notified of his death by wire last night,
and the remains will be held at Bonney &
Stewards awaiting word from them.