The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-14
LAST HIDING PLACE.
A Seattle Girl Drowned While
Playing Hide and Seek.
DISAPPOINTED sAFE.CRACKERs
Novices, Evidently, Make an Unsuc-
cessful Attempt to Blow Open
Western Avenue sac.

Rachel Duncan, aged 6 years. who lived
with her father on Eighth avenue south.
three doors north of Lane street, was
drowned on the tide fats last evening,
sometime between and O'Clock. The
body was recovered at 8 o'clock by William
Pratt, a railroad man. and Gus Anderson,
q sailor, who started out searching as soon
as the absence Of the child was discov-
cred.
The Squire fiat Is located at the corner
OF Lane street and Sixth avenue south.
There is a sort OF wharf built over the tide
fats and on il are q number OF one and
q half story brown houses. When Lane
street reaches the bluff that goes up at
the back OF these houses 1t comes upon
a narrow and very steep staircase that
runs down TO a sort of alley way between
houses occupied by John A. Cassen on the
south and c. Brown on the north. There
is an open space, two or three feet wide.
between the south edge OF the wharf and
the north side of Casselrs house.
Little Rachel Duncan had come down
over the bluff to play with Florence Cas-
sell. Pearl and Olive Pratt and Mrs. Mn
ME Browns children. They had a great
romp playing hide and seek. Finally Mrs.
Minnie Brown noticed the little girl stand
ing outside. and thinking IL late-shs is
positive It was after laid:
why don't you 20 home, little giri?"
I'm playing" replied Rachel.
short time after this all OF the chill
dren. except the one who did the seeking,
started out TO find hiding places. Flor
ence Casssll thinks that Rachel started IN
the direction Of the stairs that lead up
over the bluff. After the children had
come in one by one and Rachel did not
make her appearance they commenced 20
call her name. There was no response.
Then they concluded she had gone home.
for some OF them had said once or twice
that they heard some one calling her 10
supper.
When Rachel failed to come home her
father started out TO see what had be-
come OF her. He spoke 10 William Pratt,
who Immediately thought OF the posi-
billy Of drowning. Pratt reported the
matter TO the police and also commenced
searching himself. Gus Anderson assisted
him. As the tide went out they were able
to get under the wharf on which the
brown houses stand. and 10 their sorrow
they discovered the body OF the little girl
half in and half out OF an old water-fillei
boat Her head was plunged forward, and
from this the men thought she was trying
20 get into the boat when her strength
gave out and she was drowned. Some
people think she fell into the water
through the hole previously described. and
managed to reach the boat before giving
out. Others think she went under the
houses TO hide and got into the water.
Others think /: possible that she attempt
ed 10 so Up the steps and slipping. tell
under the wharf. Pratt and Anderson
said the water was high about the time OF
ne drowning This would make the water
about seven feet deep in some places.
The body gas taken 70 Batterwcrth's
undertaking rooms The time OF holding
an ircnes, WIN probably be announced to-
Gay. Mr.. DUNCAN lost his wife several
months ago. He has a little baby left hiu.
he IS sal. to be poor.