The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-17
DEATH IN THE LAKE.
Kancher Is Drowned Through
Zoo Much Drinking.
FELL ~ THE WATER IN DARKNESS
Joseph PfAhi sinks Close to shore with
an Expiring Cry-Darkness pre-
vents . Rescue.

The body OF Joseph II. Pfaha, a we'll
so-do rancher who lived at woifs land
Ing on Lake Washington. was fshed
out OF the lake at tie foot OF Madison
street yesterday morning. While re-
turning home late Friday night Pfahl
fell on the incline which runs down
toward Leaixe's boat house and was
drowned. Although he was not reesing
drunk. ne had been drinking all day
and during the evening. Pfahs was
about 40 Years old. well educated and q
good business man. Ha lived in fairly
good house near VOLTS landing on the
west shore OF Lake Washington with
MS sister. who came to this country q
year or 30 ago.
Friday morning Pfahl came to the
city. leaving his skin at Capt. Leake's
boat house. In the afternoon he re-
turned home and when he rowed away
from the boat house he was pretty well
under the influence Of liquor. Capt.
Leake told him he had better be care
full about drinking so much, for he
might fall out OF his boat. Pfahl
laughed. replying: "Oh, I'm all right
captain" About Z O'Clock the same
evening he arrived at the boat house
again on his way TO the city to attend
meeting OF Seattle Grove Lodge. No.
z, United Ancient Order Druids. At
tnaf time he appeared sober and walked
straight. He told the captain that he
need not walt for him, as he would
come out from the city with Joseph
Nichols. his friend and neighbor.
After attending the meeting Pfahl.
nd 81
started Tor home. arriving at the Lake
washington a few minutes after IL
O'Clock. Nichols and his friend went
toward their boat, which was near the
the captains house. while Pfahl went
down the incline to the boat house on
which he had stored his sklf.
A moment latter Nichols heard Pfahl
calling for help. He rushed over to the
pont where he heard the cries, but
could not find any trace OF his friend
The racket reused Capt. Leake. who
came out and Joined in the search for
the missing man. No trace of him was
found, but his hat was picked up near
the southwest corner OF the boat house
about eight feet from the end OF the in
cline.
The search was continued yesterday
morning. resulting in the discovery Of
the body4n about seven feet of water.
close to where it was thought he dis
appeared
Coroner Askam viewed the remains
and decided that death was purely ac-
cidentaf. The body was removed to But
terworth's undertaking rooms pending
arrangements for burial. The watch
found on the body showed that the
hands had stopped at 11:25 O'Clock.
Pfahi had a fine blooded rooster in a
bag when he left his friends, but the
poor bird has not been found. It "a
thought 1t Is under the boat house.
Pfahi had sos In the Peoples Savings
bank. owned forty acres of land at
Volts landing and had other property
near Ballard. He has one brother in
Germany. 1t is said that another OF his
brothers was found dead on the Plains
In Texas.
Coroner Askam thinks either the CITY
or the Madison Street Railway Com
pany ought 10 keep an electric light
burning on the wharves along the end
OF Madison street.