The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-26
TVOHOMES DESOLATE
Three Boys Drowned Near the
Coal Bunkers.
EFFORTS TO REVIVE THEM FAIL.
Their Parents Reluctantly Let Them
Go Fishing-Two Perish In Try
ing TO Rescue the Third.

playing on DOOM Oh oSS- VIZ. 40sA -
and the other two In attempting TO save
his lie gave up their own. /: was the
saddess case of the kind recorded In THIS
city for many years, and the sights al
tending the rescuiDs or the bodies, at
saynpfs al reSlscitation and the grtef Of
the parents when the awful news be-
came known that life was gone, were
particularly affecting.
Those drowned were:
Louis f. Blanchard. aged - years. step
son of j. Harry Hedrick. freight clerk
for the Oregon Improvement Company
Gf the Ocean dock.
Albert BirkeI jr.. aged = years. son OF
Albert Nj Birkel, proprietor OF the AT
iantic house.
willie Birkel. aged il years. son OF Al
bert NJ. Birkel. proprietor OF the atidh''c
house.
The homes that were happy yesterday
sgere plunged into the deepest grief De
fore the sun went down. At one nome
The dinner table, all ready and waiting Tor
two little boys, was never TOUGHER. ana
mt the other the grief-strichen mother
saf locking at the empty shoes OF her
dear one while the physicians. father
and other willing hands were trying to
bring back life.
Louis r. Blanchard was a f1ne-looking
boy, with a manly. open face. lie was
a pupil OF the South school. Even sshen
a child misfortune put her hand upon
him, for he was lame. Along the water
front he was well known and liked. His
father being employed AT the Ocean dock,
Just north OF the coal bunkers, by the
Oregon Improvement Company, he was
about the place frequently.
Eager 10 Go Fishing
Among Blanchard's playmates we're the
Eirkei boys, Albert and Willie. both fine
looking boys. They were very anxious
day before yesterday TO go down TO the
water front fishing. but their parents
were afraid that some accident would
happen and refused their consent. When
yesterday. with It's clear blue sky and
hot eur came the boys again pleaded TO
be allowed TO 20 sa-frhing. Finally
about 2 o'clock Mr.. and Mrs. Birkei al
lowed them TO go. cautionfng them to he
very careful The boys promised faith
fully TO be back at o'clock for supper.
The Birkel boys met Louis r. blanchard
and his haif-hrother. Mona Hedrick, aged
6 years on the water front and they went
over TO the Oregon Improvement Com
panys coal biinkers. Another little boy
named Elmer johnson. aged years.
Joined the party. Fishing was poor sport.
so they decided to have some fun on the
hig logs that lay In the slip between the
south side OF the bunkers and the Stet-
son A. Post mill.
From the south side of the bunkers the
bank that leads down 10 the water is
quite steep and only a few feet from the
shore the water Is ten or twelve feet
deep. The logs come close up 70 the shore
and IL is easy 10 reach them by a slight
spring.
Playing on the Logs.
Blanchard Albert and Willie Birkei
took of part OF their clothes. shoes and
stockings and put on swimming tights.
Then they started out TO have good time
on the big logs. Little Mona Hedrick
and Elmer Johnson remained on the
bunkers watching them.
What actually took place just prior 10
the fatal plunge can only he told 10y ;he
two little boys who stood on the ounkers.
There were men on top of the bunkers
and others within square or so, but
none of them saw the accident. The
story as obtained from Johnson. who Is
Q years old. showed that Louis Blanchard
and Albert Birkel lost their lives through
their efforts TO save their comrade.
Lost I'm Rescuing Comratle.
Blanchard and Albert Rirkei were on
one log and Willie on another close -.
As While ran toward the other boys. his
log rolled and be slipped into the water.
Blanchard seemed TO only think OF rescu-
Ing his playmate. and. leaning down over
the side Of the log on which he stood.
got hold of Willie Birkel and Albert
Birkel did the same.
The brave boys in their efforts 10 do
heroic deed forgot all about their own
safety. They tried to raise their com
rade from the water and the log en-
which they stood rolled. sending them
Into the water also.
They tried to cry for help. but their
mouths filled with water and. as the
little johnson boy said. there was a
hubhling sound and they all went out OF
sight. The logs rolled uneasiy and went
over the spot where they had disappeared
One straw hat noated on the water TO
tell what had taken place.
Aid Comes Too Late.
Little Mona Hedrick and Elmer John
son were greatly scared at what had
passed before their eyes. but commenced
yelling for help. aud then the former ran
over to the Ocean dock. where his father
was At work. The little fellow Kept yell
ing.
louis is drowned. Louis IS drowned" '
Mr.. Hedriek recovered himself as soon
as possible. and started for the hunkers
on the run. Ia the mean time Master
Miller. % the tug Rig. had also given the
alarm and John Hogan had come across
the slip with long pike poles. Frank
Burns. the Oregon Improvement coal
agent. WAS also one Of the Hrst to reach
the scene. Peter Evsnson ard nan Casey
were on hand too. The logs were pushed
away in about Hfteen minutes and the
bodies taken nut. All were found within
a few feef of sarh other hut there was
nothing 70 indicate thar fhey mad held
on "a one another, Frank Burns said he
thought they were practically on a line.
As saoa as the bodies we're raised On
the hunkevs they were placed over bar
rels and the water rolled oar of them.
Telephone message were sent ont for
FIRST 90 arrive ami later came Dr. Mont
gonlery Russell and pr Sifton. Of South
Seattle. There was no trouble 80 fni
men willing 20 keep un artificial reSrtra-
tion. bat the spark of life had left the
bodies. Fsvan after the physicians had
pronounced lfe extinct the work went on
Coroner AskAm took charge 81 tha
bodies about - o'clock. and had them
removed 60 1onuer & Stewards rnorgue.
Mrs he3rtck was there waiting 10 see
che body of her har. ara me fnar-ue vas
ciearef while she aad her husband Mere
with tne dead, Father rrefaatatua vas
admitted Few moments batter
Gricr 81 tho Parents.
The identify ~ ths fsivte1 nsy.
cd thrauEh ths 0ee shows s0a Coroner A..
KAN tmmetatfiy went so the Atlantis
house aG3 broke thr news as 4rnflv a.
possible Mrs. Rirkei recognised ire ilttle
ran ere ~ her SONS has worn and broke
oar rrvirg. Her husband wen4 afyysaS,
wild when De heav3 81 tAe 8rrtsat. a~3