The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-06


Fortune wears an ironieai smile when
she comes TO a man IN the hour OF death
w L. Cook had worked hard as
helper at the Lake Washington pumping
station for six months. winning the ap-
probation OF Superintendent i. r. foCngs
and Chief Engineer n A ChristoI Ihen
an opportunity came for promotion ana
he took the civil service examination for
fireman. passing with credit 20 himself
and little family When he told the
wife who awaited his coming at l2S irving
street. near Tayior's mill. that he nad
won the day and Superintendent foungs
had appointed him fireman, TO take enect
today, 1t seemed as IL the general wave
Of prosperity had touched their nome
with it's golden-tipped wings
Today is here, but there Is no JOY at
I23 Irving street on the front door there
is Grape and at Butterworth's undertake
ing rooms lies the body of W. l.. Cook,
life gone, crushed out by the giant ny
wheel at the Lake Washington pumping
station. Cook died a horrible death;
died by inches. while his friends were
trying TO extricate him from the cold.
heartless and powerful machinery. AS
the big wheel turned, no one knows
why or how il did turn, and the spoke
crushed Cooks body up against the TOP
edge OF the valve chamber he cried aloud
In agony. Help came quickly, but 1t took
fifteen minutes to turn the massive wheel
by the aid OF jackscrews. once COOK
cried out:
FOR Gods sake take me out or l will
die He was dead when the wheel was
turned back and his body was taken cut.
The engine that runs the Holly pump
at the Lake Washington station was smut
down Yesterday at u O'Clock TO allow
N
W. l.. Cook, the helper, who had been
promoted 10 the position Of fireman 10
take effect today, crawled into the man
hole in the chamber, In doing so that
portion OF his body outside the chamber
was between two spokes of the fly wheel
This wheel has a diameter OF about forty
feet and viii weigh four or i've tons.
Chief Engineer y. A. Christof had Just
stepped over 10 his work bench when he
heard Cook cry out for assistance. III
was the cry Of a man in great agony
Christof responded and found COOK
crushed between the upper edge OF the
manhoIa and one of the spokes OF the
wheel At moments glance the enSl-
neer saw that the monster wheel had
moved six inches. bringing the spoke up
against Cooks stomach and thus press
ing the small of his back against the
edge OF the hole through which he had
stuck his head and shoulders
The sight was more than Christot couio
stand and he turned his head in horror
he called for Bill Woolery. the fireman
wooIery and one or two other men
answered the call. Cook was still alive.
although his body was squeezed up ike
the middle part of an hour glass
FOR Gods sake. take me out. or l VIII
die" were the words that came TO WOOL
ery's ears from the steel chamber.
Grab hold Of the valves repned WOOL
cry. so that when we get the wheel turn
ed back you Will not drop down into the
pit"
Cook grabbed the valves. II was his
death grasp. The men worked at the wheel
for fifteen minutes before they could de-
tach the connecting rod and by means or
lack screws raise the wheel enough 10 al
low them 20 draw the body out.
TIVE physicians had been sent for. but
their services were not necessary the un-
fortunate man was dead. and he had died
by inches. Coroner Yandeu instructed
DEPUTY Bert Butterworth TO investigate
the case. and the substance OF what he dis
covered is distributed through the story
given above Chief Engineer Christof,
said Mr. Butterworth last evening. did
not attempt 10 explain how the big wheel
happened to move, and no one else offered
a solution Christof told me that he warn
ed Cook to tic a spoke Of the wheel TO
croes-heam before he went into the valve
chamber ] learned from Mrs. Cook later
that her husband had narrow escape
from being caught once before In the same
manner that eventually caused his death.
Oniv a few days ago he was unlucky
enough 10 have the end OF "a finger cfasn-
Ell or taken off. That was minor injury.
however"
The body was taken 10 Butterworth's
Undertaking rooms and examined as 10 the
injuries II appeared that the pressure
from The spoke bad literally broken Cooks
body i'm two pieces internally. bat TO out
ward appearances he was only bruised
near the small of the back on the left side.
lie was "a large man. well proportioned.
and only s. years old.
This Is the first accident OF the kind that
has taken place fl Seattle for eight years
at le5st and 90 a person not acquainted
with machinery it may bee difficult 10 OBJ
tain d mental picture of how the killing
took place even after carefully reading
the explanation. A good idea q the case
NAV bo obtained by imagining that box
with a hole tn il large enough 20 admit %
the passsEe II mans head and shout
ders had been placed ia front OF a wheel q
4 WAGON III "a man should shove his head
aud shoulders between two spokeS OF the
wheel and also through the bole into the
box. he would be IN the same position Cook
vss 81 the Lake Washington pumping sta
ton II the wheel moved up Il would press
{ one spoke against the mans stomach and
his hack against the upper edge Of the
| hole tu the box Il the pressure We're suf
nciant Il would crush the life ont az the
uau mat Is exactly the way Cook was
| killed
Coroner Yardeu VIII meet The witnesses
at Btltterw erth's undertaking rooms this
raorninE SO o'clock. and hear their stories.
I II the facts warrant al inquest he viii
hold one.
| J.. r YounEs. superintendent % the wat
~ works said asst utght that Cock was
sober intelligent. faithful and industrious
man Who had worked hard as helper for
six months and been promoted 20 the po-
SETON % fireman % take effect this after
noon. He could not understand. ne said
/ bow TIE wheel moved. as Engineer Christ
* informed him al usual precautions
against such a talng has been taken
I COX leaves a wife and two bright little
children lie has lived in Seattle some
time ard Is weU-kUcWn member %
{ Queen CITY Lodge No. ~. \. q e. W Ills
father Nves ln Chicase- He has number
81 relatives living ln Iowa. Cook was htld
( 81 h.xh esteem By all his fellow -gyor \ men.