The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-02

-. superintendent of the Seattle exesn
aeS ana Power Company, returned Non
osy ron their trip to q mininx clzam In
the sultan basin. near Gold bar. which
.sS'ssstsa Ia the dr0wning u John Swanson
IE the Skykomish river sunday
morning. - briefly reported in
lonoay Fost-Inteaiigencer. From the
oy them. It appears that swanson
c11n was the result ok his own careless
Mesa Ho Was alono IN thu boat vvhen Il
vas carried by the swift current OF the
swollen mountain stream Oyer the raxifs
swanson had crossed the river Ann the
camp made By the trio on the north bank
% the river, about = mile and q half
rom dcid Bar. to examine le6ge Of rock.
returning. he allowed his boat 10 drift
into the rapids n spite OF the vsrnins
q hts companions. and when about twen-
" Ieee nom the shore the boat was up-
turned and r drowned In the whirlpool
Of water.
Lee and Randolph employed Swanson
nearly two months ago to do some pros
pexing for them In the Sultan basin.
LAM April be discovered q cAtm near
Goid par. On tne north side Of the sky
Aomash river. Afterwzrd he staked the
claim out and died the required mineral
notice On Saturday. Lee, Randolph and
swanson started from Seattie to the claim.
carrying with them suzlcient food ana
supplies to enable Swanson to work a
month at the claim. They also took q
new boat. which had been built for his
use In crossing the river.
The trio ieft here Saturday afternoon
On the Great Northern. and left the train
ono and one-hAH miles east OF Gold Bar.
was about Z o'clock In the evening
wnen the party reached the river bank.
II was raining and the river was swollen
from melting SHOWS In the mountains At
the suggestion OF Randolph. camp Was
built ON the rivers bank. and the party
decided to waat till morning before at
tempting to cross the river, The water
was running at the rate Of about fifteen
miles an hour and the risk was SUFFICIENT
to deter the men from making the cross
ing until the water had receded some-
what. When day broke It had stopped
raining. and while Lee and Swanson were
engaged In packing the provisions and
supplies preparatory to crossing, Ran
doiph went up the stream for an hours
fishing. He returned to find that Swan
son had been drowned in the swirIing
eddies OF the rapids just below the camp.
Leo was an eyewitness OF Swanson's
death. He yesterday described the acci-
dent about as follows:
swanson wanted to examine a ledge OF
rock across the river. but little further
down. He WAS told not to venture max
ing tho crossing SO near the rapids, but
after trying the boat concluded to take
the chance. He landed on the south
bank, and. after making some examina-
tons OF the ledge. embarked and started
to row acrpss to the camp. At the far
Their shore. near the ledge Of rock, the
water was comparatively still, owing TO
an eddy that was formed by the bank
But as Swanson got out III the middle
OF the stream he gradually drifted nearer
the rapids. Seeing his danger, Lee ran
to the bank and called to him to keep
away from the rocks 1t Is doubtful il
Swanson heard him above the roar Of the
cataract. When within twenty feet OF
the shore. Swanson was perilously near
the large boulders, over which the water
rushed at q terrific rate. He saw his
danger. but apparently lost his head He
rose to his feet and pulled out an oar,
intending to use II as a paddle. In an
other instant the boat was swept over the
rapids. 1t rode the first wave all right.
hut was quickly overturned on a rock.
Lee ran down the rivers edge. thinking
he could help Swanson out OF the water
II he came near the shore He says Swan
son came up once after being thrown into
the water. He stood half out.Se the water.
and then with terrible look OF agony on
his face was drawn beneath the whirling
pool. This was the last seen OF him. and
although Randolph and Lee. with the aid
OF some Indians residing near, patroled
both banks of the stream for several miles.
no trace of the boat or OF the body could
be found. The Indians say that 1t is ike
" the body IL caught In the rocks and
will be found when the water goes Gown
sufficiently to allow them to search In the
rapids.
Swanson was about 20 years OF age. His
father, Olof Swanson. and brother live In
Princeton, H. He left no property 10 speak
OF. His relatives will be communicated
with.
Swanson was familiar with the peculiar
tiles OF the stream. wing prospecfed In
the vicinity where he met his death for
some time, and was well acquainted with
the settlers and miners In the country.
When Randolph told him net TO venture
to cross, ne replied that he knew the river
better than he (RaEdoiph) did He roomed
on Yesler way. between Fifth and Sixth
avenues.