The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-30
.CHIrs- DID NOT FLOAT.


This IL the story OF how a fiye-gallon jug
of whisky caused the death Of Chips" a
famous character on Hood canal. Now
that Chips is dead some of his &C.
quaintances recall that biz real name was
Abraham Abrahamson. He was fisher
man and true son Of the jug.
John l.. kahaley, who was one of Seat
ties fire commissioners as long as that
body existed, and William EIwell. have
had a logging camp at Squamish harbor.
Hood canal, opposite Port Gamble. for the
past two or three years. Chips" did the
boating" by which is meant that he car
ried supplies across from Port Gamble. a
distance of six miles. In the perform
ance of this work he used large Collm-
bia river fishing boat. week ago last
Tuesday Chips" was sent to Gamble to
get supplies. especially certain articles
that were needed TO repair an engine. Mr..
Eiwell was there. and after everything
was attended to he took a steamer for
Seattle Chips did not care to make the
trip alone when he could get company.
This accounts for the presence of Nose"
a sailor off the bark Kitsap. in the boat.
Perhaps "a jug of whisky that the cook
at the camp had ordered had something
10 do with persuading Nose to accom-
pany Chips" History says that In addl-
ton to the jug. a five-galon one at that.
they had n quart bottle filled with LIQUID
that did not have champagne sparkle
to ii. '''s
They set sail for the logging camp and
got along all right until the wind went
down. Then they tried to row the heavy
boat, but as the current and tide made it
hard work. they probably intermixed the
strokes of the oars with frequent potions
from the bottle and jug. Naturally. in
due course of time, they arrived at that
condition when it was impossible to MAIN
tain a straight course. Under such condi-
lions Chips" has been in the habit of let
ting the boat drift and when shallow
water is reached throwing out an anchor.
1t is supposed that he followed this
course in the present instance. The boat
was knocked about by different currents
until 1t finally arrived In Useless bay, for
~ miles from Port Gamble. There Chips
attempted 10 drop anchor, and in SO do
ing fell overheard. His feet were caught
in the ropes and rigging. and in his help
less condition he drowned. while his COM
panion lay in the bottom of the boat dead
drunk.
When people on WILDLY island found
the boat close in shore :Chips' body was
half under water. He had been dead some
time. Nose" according TO the story
brought TO Seattle yesterday, was stretch
cd out in the bottom OF the boat. still en-
joyng the effects of the bug juice he had
imbibed.
In the meantime. the laborers at the log
ging camp were wondering what had hap
pened. The supplies did not come. and
they heard nothing from Mr.. Kahaley and
Mr.. Elwell. because they were looking for
/. a new location on the Skagit river Final
ly, the men packed up and came to Seattle.
They met Mr.. Elwell on his return and
told him about the disappearance OF
Chips" AS there was SO worth of sup
plies in the boat Mr.. ElweIl started for
Port Gamble Immediately. He has not re-
turned, but yesterday afternoon Scott
Jameson. of Port Gamble was i'm the city
and told Mr.. kahalcy about the discovery
OF Chips dead as a door nail.
Chips is a Russian Finn about -
years old. So far as known he has no rela-
/ lives. lie has lived for Il long time on
/ Hood canal. While he was not carrying
/ supplies he fished.