The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-20
UNDER THE BUNKERS.
The Harbor Yields Up a
Drowned Mans Body.
FELL OVERHEARD WHILE DRUNK.
John Lemons Body Found Hanging in
the Water-He Had Been Drinking
and Was Alive Sunday.

The body of John Lennon, aged As
years, supposed to be rancher who lived
about eighteen miles from Chehalis, was
taken from the bay at the coal bunkers
yesterday afternoon about O'Clock.
Hugh Williams, a fireman on the Co
lumbia d Puget Sound railroad, was pass
ing along the south side of the coal bunk
ers yesterday afternoon, when he noticed
human form doubled over brace on
the piling, both head and feet below water.
Ten feet away was float to which lad.
der led from the bunkers. Williams went
down to the float, and found
that the body was that of
man who had apparently got hold
OF the brace, but drowned while clinging
on.
Lieutenant Nick Hanna took charge of
the remains until Coroner Horton made
his appearance, and with the help of one
or two bystanders pulled the body upon
the float. In doing so, the skin of the
nose was brazed ard the blood trickled
over the dead mans face in an instant.
This fact made it apparent that he had not
been in the water many hours. His cloth
ing and shoes were of good quality.
Striped trousers, chinchilla vest and
black diagonal coat were his outer gar
ments, while navy-blue shirt with a
black string tie were underneath. He
measured feet 10 inches, had gray eyes,
which were wide open and staring,
and weighed $50 pounds. On his person
were two letters, the first of which was
from his son, James Lennon, postmarked
at Marysville. WASH. April 1, 1892 The
writer tells his father that Mr.. Roe wants
him to come quick, as he can get job to
drive oxen at $75 month. He also saws
$50 month men are plenty and work is
scarce. The other was from Grace Len
non, evidently daughter of the drowned
man, and was written to her brother
James, dated Avondale, Wash, March 10.
Other things upon his person were several
punches OF matches, comb, pipe, tobacco
bag and a small bottle containing a little
liquid.
The body was hanled up to the bunkers
With rope and In few moments was
surrounded by a crowd of water front men,
each anxious to see if he recognized the
man. j. Mattson, longshoreman, said:
Why, Isaw that man at the union rooms yes
terday, and Mike O'Neil gave him his dinner
Sunday. Poor fellow He said he had been
robbed of $50 and had not had anything to eat
ali day.
The remains were removed to Bonney &
Stewards undertaking rooms, where they
were viewed by more than 100 persons,
some of whom had evidently been at
tracted to the place to hear the Radloff
inquest. Michael O'Neil, who had be-
friended Lennon Sunday, called late in the
afternoon and identified the remains. He
corroborated Mattson's story about Len
mons being robbed, and added that the
dead man told him he and his son owned
q ranch eighteen miles from Chehaiis.
1t was found at police headquarters that
John Lennon was arrested on April 16 for
being asleep in the street. Police Captain
Hogle saw the body and recognized the
man as the one brought in to police head
quarters.
Coroner Horton said that he might con-
clude to hold an inquest over the body
today, although in all probability the man
had fallen into the water while intoxi-
Gated. Several persons who saw Lennon
within the last few days said he was very
shaky. and they judged he had been
drinking heavily. From this the theory
has been accepted that Lennon fell into the
bay while intoxicated. got hold of the
brace, but was too weak to save himself
from drowning.