The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-26
August HaItr prernea.

August Esitx Drowned
At O'Clock yesterday morning August
Balsz informed George f. Bencksrt that
he had been drunk for thirty-sevsn DAYS.
Three hours ateE Baths body was On
a slab a. Buttsrwo-this mcrgue.
Baitz drove wagon fer the Milwaukee
Proving Company. which has an ONCE al
the end OF the south driveway % the
City dock He has been in the habit Of
starting out with his delivery wagon at
O'Clock in the morning He returned
usually about 70.
Some heavy joists have been piled I'D on
the north side o. the driveway. leaving
e space for a team 20 pass AT the south
side Of the driveway trestIe has been
put IN. On top Of II IS q railroad track.
The track Is FIVE or six feet below the
level Of the driveway. so that when a
car Is run down 70 the warehouse the
door OF the car Is on level with the
wharf All Of the ties used in the con-
struction OF the track extend well out.
except one. This CHANGED 10 be short
Consequently there was space betw cen
two ties. outside the track. nearly on a
line straight down from the south edge
Of the driveway
At 10;4s O'Clock Baltz was driving down
10 the Office. His horse was trotting FIX
actiy how IL happened no one knows
but the front wheel struck one OF the
Ar&Ng gt.ks anu ESAAAI Vas pllClcJ mead
long from his seat he struck the edge
OF the driveway. as was shown BY the
snow. and then pitched down through the
hole made by the short tie into the water
o. S. Laning, wha ringer, was walking
along a short distance behind Baitz'
team when the accident occurred. He re-
calls that the horse was trotting but did
not see Baltz when he took the plunge.
He noticed. however that the horse had
81 nd hat he y4x hoz
disappeared. Near the edge OF the drive
way lay a hat.
Laning ran 10 the spot and looked down.
In the water, which was three feet from
the track. he saw BaItz. He was sub
merged with the exception OF a small part
OF his head. Laning gave an alarm which
was answered by William r. Lyle book
keeper for the Milwaukee Brewing Com
pany. II did not take Laning minute to
get a long pole with a hook on one end.
He stuck the pole down into the water
and hooked on 10 the seat OF Baltz's
trousers. and with Lytle's assistance got
him out OF the water. Baitx gasped twice
when he was taken out, and his heart
was stiu beating feebly.
The body was taken into Lilly, Bogardus
g. Co.'S warehouse. where three ply
sicians did all they could TO restore life.
II was no use; BATH was TOO far gone.
and he died. Coroner Yandell viewed the
body. and after looking into the case de-
cided that an inquest was unnecessary
AS the body was being put into Butter
worth's dead wagon some one said that
Baltz was not under the influence OF
liquor. A half-breed whose name could
not be learned said Baltz and he had been
drinking together less than a half-hour
before the accident.
Baltz was in the State OF Washington
saloon on First avenue south about
O'Clock He was drunk and wanted more
liquor. which was refused him. The bar
tender stepped out. and Baltz tried TO
persuade George F. Benckert. who lives
at Main and Twelfth avenue south, TO
give him a drink. Benekert said he had
no authority. BaItZ told him he had been
drunk for thirty-seven days. Benckert
tried to get Baltz 20 go on about his
business but be would not listen. Final
~ another beer wagon driver went into
the saloon and he succeeded in getting
Baltz out.
william r Lytle. bookkeeper for the
Milwaukee Brewing Company. was in
clIned 70 doubt the report that Baltz was
intoxicated. He said that while he drank
considerable. he was always able 70 do
Bate was an hour behind his time 10
return to the Office when he fell over
board.
II Is probable that Baltz' death was
due 10 a combination, water and shock.
The Only Indication that he struck either
the driveway or the railroad ties was
slight abrasion on the nose.
Baltz was IS years old. He had lived in
Seattle about eight years. He has worked
FOR the Bay View brewery and the Seattle
Brewing and Mating Company. lie was