The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-25
SAVED FROM THE oUicKsANDs
Periious Adventure of James Wilson In
the Snohomish River.

Perilous Adventure of James Wilson In
the snohomish River.
Everett special: A most thrilling ex-
perience and a rescue in the face of a
slow death by drowning happened q
few miles above Everett one day last
week. To fully understand the particu-
lars or the AFFAIR, a few facts must be
stated as a preliminary to the story
The steamer Florence Henry, Captain
j. Il. Fairbairn, master. is engaged in
towing logs from Cherry Valley to
Priest point, on the Snohomish river.
Coming down stream the other day II
was necessary to make a landing and
tie up the raft to save running against
the incoming tide. 1t was between 4
and o'clock in the afternoon. AS the
raft drew up near the bank James Will
son, an old-time river man of IL years
experience, and one OF the best loggers
on the river, grasping a line jumped
ashore to make fast to a tree He land
ed In water nearly up to his waist and
failed to reach the tree. The raft and
steamer glided on, the crew intent on
erecting the landing. which was made
half a mile below. Wilson not showing
up, the steamer went back after him,
where he was found fast in a bed Of
quicksand, with the waters of the river
tide then nearly up to his armpits. The
situation was grave and critical. All
efforts to move the imperiled man
were fruitless, and the time in which
anything could be done was reduced to
few minutes. 1t seemed as IL the I'M
fortunate man was doomed to see the
hungry waters rise about him and claim
him for their own.
Meantime the officers and crew, full
OF sympathy for their comrade, stood
by to make every effort to cheer and
save him. 1t was certain that the tide
would rise nearly a foot above his head
before the water would begin to recede.
What could be done? Like an inspira-
ton, in the midst of the awful situa-
ton, came the plan of rescue. a small
iron pipe about four feet in length was
brought from the boat and placed i'm
Wilson's mouth. lie could use his arms
to steady 1t. Then oakum was used to
cover his mouth around the pipe, and
over the oakum was placed covering
of white lead, making IL water tight.
The mans nostrils and ears were plug
ged up I'm like manner with oakum and
white lead. 1t was found that he could
breathe freely through the pipe, and
thus equipped. Wilson. relieved OF fear
and confident of his release in a short
time, calmly waited the rising of the
tide, which finally covered his head to
depth of six or eight inches. His COM
panions stood by him faithfully in a
small boat and IL was not more that
about three-quarters of an hour, al
though II seemed an age when the
waters had receded far enough to let
his head out of water and he could feel
that the crisis was passed. When the
tide had gone out sufficiently to uncov-
er the fiat. willing hands soon did the
work Of shoveling the sand away. and
amid general rejoicing Wilson was TAX
en- safely aboard the steamer, appar-
emily none the worse for his thrilling
adventure. But he has had enough of
logging and steamboating. He has quit
the river TO get married and settle down
on his ranch near Snobomish. The
crew of the Florence Henry. in addition
to the master. Captain Fairbairn, con-
sists of Captain George Hill. pilot: Mr..
Hinderer. engineer. and Mr.. Ida, mate.
The story Is unique I'm the marine in
cidents of the waters and tributaries of
Puget sound. but it's veracity will be
fully vouched for by Captain Fairbairn.
from whose lips the representative of
the Post-Intelligencer received II. and
by the other members of the crew, not
TO mention the man most concerned.
James Wilson himself