The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-17
Twenty-Y ear-Old Edward Gay
Meets a Terrible Fate.
BODY is CUT INTO PIECES.
Victim Was Employed In Kerry's
MiII-In Attempting to steady
boards One of His Feet Comes in
Contact with the Saw and L. Cut
Outright Arm Suffered Next
and Then His Entire Body.

Edward Cay. aged 20 years, son Of Mr..
and Mrs. T. r. Gay, of 224 Clay street,
North Seattle. was literally sawed to
pieces In the Kerry Lumber Company's
mill yesterday morning. His right leg
was cut into three pieces. his right arm
was severed. but left hanging by shred
Of flesh. The sharp and ugly teeth OF
the saw then passed up through the
body In zigzag course. mangling 1t hor-
ribiy.
Wonderful as II may seem Gay lived
fully three quarters of an hour, end
was perfectly conscious. He even helped
the rescuers 70 take him out OF the saw
DIT Experienced mill men say 1t was
the most horrible accident of which they
have ever heard.
Cav had been working where they draw
the logs up into the MILL, but he was
afraid of contracting another case of
pneumonia and rheumatism About three
months ago he suffered from pneumonia.
Mr. Kerry transferred him TO the mill
proper and gave him the position of
handling the lumber after 1t passed the
circular saw.
AT the time OF the accident three or
four boards, one piled upon, the other,
were being split lengthwise. The saw
had eaten about two feet into the lumber
but the dogs did not hold WELL according
10 the statement made at the mill to
or that part of the machinery which car
ries the lumber being sawed, was stop
ped. but the saw kept on revolving. Saw
yer Newton took hold of the boards to
steady them. Gay got on the carriage
and put his foot on the boards. Look
out for the saw" said Newton.
moment later there was cry. The
saw had caught Gays foot and cut II
clean off, He fell and the saw went
through the ealf of the same leg. but
left II hanging by the flesh Another
cut and the useless limb fell from the
body and tumbled down into the pit.
The poor fellows body was now On tho
ugly teeth and as they slashed their way
first TO the right and then the left up
TO the lungs. and incidentally cut off
the right arm and several fingers. he fell
into the hole below the saw. hut held
himself up by his uninjured arm.
Sawyer Newton and Mr.. Kerry rushed
to hts assistance and pulled him out.
He was still conscious. A stretcher was
Monod hospital. Someone spoke of CIV
Ing him some iiquor.
yes" he said; II am Just commenc-
ing TO feel the pain
His father arrived In short time. 40
you recognize me?" he asked Yes"
replied young Gay: Il guess 1t is all OF
with me-"
lie commenced to lose strens h. and
before he was under the II fiuence of an
estetics he died.
1t was a peculiar coincidence that tho
evening before icy was killed he was
Initiated as a member of Seattle camp,
No. 50. woodmen OF the World, I'm which
he took out insurance in favor of his
mother to the amount of 5000 He re-
ceived his certificate inst before he left
the hall for home At Il 80 o'clock.
Several years ago Gay was we'll
known messenger boy In the employ of
the American District relegru on Com
pany. Later he worried In I.loyd's tin
shop and about two months ago secured
employment at The Kerry mill
Deputy Coroner Powers said last even
Ing that he did not think an inquest
would be nsld.