The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-25
TIDE FLAT TRAGEDY.
Abbott's Body Found Three
Weeks After He Was Lost.
WAS IT ACCIDENT OR MURDER ?
His BIoated Rcmains Found on the Tide
FIats-suspieions OF Foul Playa
Missing $500 Check.

The mystery surrounding the disappearance
of Abner Abbott, who has been missing since
January 2, was partly cleared UP yesterday
afternoon when his bloated remains were drawn
out of the water beneath the Columbia d Puget
Sound railroad trestle, on King street, but the
circumstances of his death still remain mys-
terry. There are some signs that he was muir
dered
About $50 o'clock japanese girl saw
the body of a man floating among the
driftwood and rubbish underneath the narrow
foot bridge leading from the Japanese alley To
the railway trestie under the incline ascending
to the coal bunkers. Officer Faweett was imIne-
diately called and notified Coroner Horton.
Upon his arrival the body was drawn from the
water and taken 20 Bonpey a. Stewards
The key TO room 4s Of the Seattle hotel was
found on the person. also a trunk check, which
established beyond doubt the identity OF the
remains This was the room occupied by
Abbott at the time of his disappearance. In the
pockets were found $50 in gold and silver
coin, two watches fone gold, and one silver,
pocketkDife and other articles. In the trunk,
which was left in the room, were found among
other things a large number OF letters addressed
10 A. Abbott
Abbott was bridge carpenter and after work
ing for some time on the Nooksack bridges IN
Nhatcom county, came 70 this city from What
com with George Dewitt and William Thomas TO
spend the Christmas holidays. He registered at
the Seattle hotel December II, paying for room
As for week. One OF his friends, W. I.
Thomas, occupied the room with him. On the
evening OF January he ordered his
baggage brought down, saying he was
going to leave the following
m ornlng 10 work ON a contract on Hoods canal.
He then left the hotel with Thomas and went to
the Eureka saloon, at the corner of south Third
ard Jackson strets. Thomas said, when his dis
appearance became known, that he was drunk
ut the time and went TO search for De Witt,
leaving Thomas at the saloon. He failed TO re-
turn aud at IL O'Clock Thomas went to the hotel
and went to bed aud knew nothing Of Abbott's
disappearance until next morning
When he left the saloon be seems 90 have gone
down South Third street ana turned along the
railroad 20 see his old friend, James Barron, who
works at night in the oil house of the Columbia
4 Puget Sound Railroad Company. The oil
house is not over thirty feet from where the
abbott came TO the oil house, where | was
working, about o'clock in the evening", said
Mr. Barron 10 reporter OF the P0ST-INTELII-
GEScEg. sHe told me that he was going,to
Hoods canal on the following day. | told him
70 SIT down few moments until | finished my
work in the adjoining room and would be with
him. left him, and when ! returnen about
fye minutes later he was gone, and | do
not think anybody saw him alive after that.
knew be had been drinking that evening, but
did not think he was drunk. He sometimes
drank when he was not working. He should
have somewhere about 500. He had it on de-
pcstt In some bank.
among the large crowd that stood around
viewing the body, many were the speculations
as 70 how man happened TO fall in at that par
ticular place ard drown, without being able 10
rescue himself by means Of the vast amount of
driftwood and even logs, which float around so
thickly among the piles. The general theory
was that, when he fell, his head struck against
piece Of this ariftwood, stunning him so that
be could not recover himself The bruises on
his face seemed 70 bear evidence OF the correct
ness of this theory.
But if be was drunk, as one theory of the case
snpposes he WIS, then, that OF itself would un-
doubtedly have prevented his recovering. But
there is strong evidence that he was not drunk
there Is the story OF Thomas 10 the effect that
be had been drunk during the day, but had
slept II of. and then the three partners went out
together IN the evening after Abbott had apollo
Rlzed to one or two persons III the hotel whom
be was told he had insul ed in his drunkenness
Thomas said the three went up the
street short distance, aud about Q
o'clock Abbott left them saying he was
going back TO the hotel; that be was sober
At the time. But it turned out that he did not
30 to the hotel, but went down to sec Barron,
who was the last 10 see him, aud Barron's story
Is 10 the effect that he was sober. The general
expression OF those who made his acquaintance
about the hotel is that he was no. a hard
dTinker. but happened that one occasion to
drink a little too much, and after becoming
sober he appeared hartily ashamed of his con-
duet.
Ii the theory that he was not drunk is the cor
rect one, as it appears to be, then how did he
tall into the water? There are two short ties
directly over the spot where the body was
found and there is possibility that he was
walking close 10 the edge and, in the darkness,
stepped into this hole, though the probabilities
are not In accord with this theory. II he was
sober and did not step into this hole,
then there must have been foul play
and If foul play, what could have
been the motive, unless he was sandbagged for
the purpose OF robbery and in falling rolled
into the water; or he may have been pushed in
by some one having spite against him. The
bruises on the face, unless done by striking
against the driftwood, must have been made
by some blunt instrument. As TO the exact cir
eumstanees, they will probably never De known,
but II seems a. though the probabilities of foul
play are sufficient 10 warrant an Investigation
by the detective aud police force OF the city.
IL appears strange that the body should re
main In the water so long without having been
seen before, as the tide runs out every day leay-
ing the beach bare for some distance beyond
this sput.
For several days after his disappearance his
friends searched the city for clue To his where
aboits The case was reported in the PosT-IN-
fELLlGENcER on January l. After several DAYS
OF waiting his friends left the city. and have not
returned since
Abbott was about - years of age. He came to
the Coast from Illinois about two years ago and
had been on the Sound seven months. He WAS
awidower, and leaves q daughter years OF age
lie lived IN Seattle for several months, while in
the employ OF the Northern Pacific Railroad
company. lie roomed with James Barron while
they boarded AZ John Stewards on the corner of
Ninth and Dearborn streets.
Mrs. stewart says that she never saw any in
nieation that he was addicted Go the use of
ilquor during the many months that he lived at
her house
Coroner Horton decided that 40 inquest was
necessary, and will order the remains to be bur
led today.
4 WHEN