The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-20
TOOK HIS LAST SWIM.
Berry Boosting Costs Neal Me-
Arthur His Life.
HIS coMRAog IS a PRISONER.
A Mornings Convfvfality Ends I'm n
Hatcry GFave-Ths Survivors
Queer idea Of Grief

Neal Macarthur. logger. and john Me-
fherson, sailor. who had been i'm bibin z
more beer than they could conveniently
carry, went swimming at TIE foot OF Wash
ington street on the water trent yestardaY
about IL ID O'Clock, and as q result Nc
Arthur was drowned and McPherson is
lodged IN the city jail on the change Of in
Decent exposure and intoxication.
Macarthur had in late years worked as
oridge-bulder on the Great Northern and
other railroads. He came to tais city q
week ago from Spokane without funds.
and William MrArGIe, an old friend.
helped him along. Yesterday morning be
met John Mcpherson IN Billy the Mugs
saloon, at the corner of South third and
Washington streets, and they told hard
luck stories and got drunk together. The
conversation 6nally drifted TO feats Of
swimming and each tried 10 convince the
other that he was the finest swimmer in
the world.
AT last they got so enthusiastic about
the subject that they decided TO take n
swim. It was the middle of the day when
the streets and wharves are crowded. but
this made no difference 10 Macarthur and
Mcpherson. They walked out TO the
tramway near the end of Harrington q
Smiths whari. undressed and Owed into
the slip. The tide was out. so it was fully
sixteen feet FROM the edge of the tramway
70 the water. Mcpherson jumped in first
end swan slowly across to the piling un-
der the Ocean dock. He was nearly played
ont. but before crawling up on the shore
OF Ballast island rested by clinging TO a
pile. Macarthur jumped into the water y
few moments later and swan slowly across
the slip. He did not seem to make good
headxay and turned back toward the
wharf. When within a few feet of the
piling at tine side OF the tramway he COM
menoed 10 sag and slowly sank ont of
sight.
Not word came from his lips. but Gus
Schmidt, who was sitting on box car on
the Ocean dock, noticed him. ran up the
street and called Officer Brennan, who
was at the box at the corner of Railroad
avenue aud Washington street. They
looked in the water near where Macarthur
had disappeared, bur nothing was TO be
seen bur dirty water and floating sticks.
By this time, however, considerable
crowd had collected and began to drag for
the body. In the meantime Mcpherson,
last island. attired only in shirt, was cap
iured by the police and taken TO head
quarters.
McArthur's body WAS found a short
time later. and. after being viewed by
Coroner Horton, was taken to Bonney d
Stewards morgue. The coroner inter-
Viewed Mcpherson, who was still under
the influence of beer, at the Jail.
What was the name of your partner 2"
asked the coroaer. Mcpherson scratched
his head and finally replied: by CORY.
I've heard, but can't remember"
How long did you know him ?" was the
next question.
"Oh, only since morning." said Nc
Pherson.
"Do you know where he is now ?" asked
the coroner.
AN faith 1 DON'T" said Mcpherson.
81 jumped and swan straight across.
without looking back"
"Well." said Coroner Horton, ''if you
want 10 see him, you will have to 60 up to
the morgue."
Mcpherson looked up with comical ex-
preston, and replied: is that SO; the
poor - -
The coroner decided that an inquest
was unnecessary, and signed the certifi-
cate that Macarthur died by accidental
drowning
Neal Macarthur was native of Scotland
unmarried. and had lived in the United
States for nearly twenty years. He was a
logger on the Mississippi river sixteen
years ago. and there made the acquaint-
ance OF Billy McArdle. OF late years he
has been a bridge-bnider. and travelled