The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-19
Fatal Result Of Collapse Of Ship
Yard Staging at Morans'.
BREAKS AN ATTENDANTS NECK
John Gillies, n Canadian Ship Car
pcnter, the victim-John A. Nc
lxinnon has o Narrow Escape
Both Were Employed ON the
George w. Observation-Disclosures
Victim of street Car. Accident.

John Gillies is dead and John A. McKfn-
non lies In Providence hospital seriously
injured as result OF the collapse yester-
day morning of staging which they were
constructing around the bow OF the
steam schooner George w. Dickinson. The
Morans are building the vessel for the
Pacific Clipper line Both men fell with
the collapse OF the staging to the dock,
twelve feet below. Gillis had his neck
broken, and his companion, McKtnnon.
sustained painful wrench of the neck
and other injuries. The latter was UNI
conscious for ten minutes. and had he
struck squarely on his head, as did Gfllies,
would no doubt have met similar fate.
The accident occurred shortly before
noon. Although a number of men were at
work on the ship none could give full de-
tails. Mckinnon says he knows what
caused the structure to drop, but he de-
clined to tell about 1t. He and Gillies were
the only men on that particular portion OF
the staging when II went down. Both
were working as ship carpenters on the
vessel
Fellow workmen rushed to the assist
ance of the unfortunate men, but We're too
late to help Gillies. Blood rushed from his
mouth and the cuts on his head, but he
McKinnon did not learn of his compan-
ions death until about o'clock at Provi-
dence hospital; aim, Poor feilown said he he,
wharf when l came to, but didn't know
he was dead. But it isn't strange. for I
was pretty well stunned. All l know Is
that Gillies and / were working on the
staging. John was near me at the time
we fell, but just what we were doing then
/ can't remember"
The body of Gillies was taken to Bonney
& Stewards where II remains subject to
instructions from relatives. No inquest
has been held.
Dr. j. B. Eagleson attended McKinnon
at the hospital He does not think the
man is dangerously injured. His back
is probably bruised and the muscles In his
hands and arms were severely strained.
Gillies was a single man. 80 years old.
He was from near St. John, N. b. For
employment in the Moran yards which be-
gan December "a. he worked as a carpen-
ter. and builder for the Canadian Pacific
railway in the Kootenay district. Much of
that time he and McKinnon were togeth-
err They had known each other for years,
and were the best of friends Gillies had a
Bros. butcher firm of Calgary. James
Gillies, another brother, Is a foreman at
the Brooklyn navy yard, and two sisters,
one Mrs. Walters, also resides in Brook
Ign.
McKinnon Is resident of Seattle.
though his wife and five children have
been living at Vancouver for two years.
McKinnon began work for the Morans
bed for four weeks prior to that time
through another accident that also nearly
cost him his life. He was in North Seat
tie and had started to cross First avenue
at Bell street. In doing so he was nearly
run down by an electric car. Just as he
made his escape from this an outbound
car ran int f, him 1bn. The fender probably
the ground and injured his left leg be-
tween the foot and knee severely. The
cuts sustained in this accident have not
thoroughly healed, though McKinnon had
been doing full duty ship carpenter
at the Morans'.