Newspaper Accounts of the Wellington Avalanche

8/2/2013

1 Comment

Roy Kristiansen

1/16/2015 06:06:54 am

Hi, Karen!

You have done a great service in putting all of these newspaper clippings and photos together in such an accessible way. You noted underneath the group photo of the 6 railroad survivors that the caption was difficult to make out. I think I can help you with that. The text reads as follows:

“Here are the first survivors of Wellington’s terrible slide who reached Everett. They got in at 10 o’clock last night, and were photographed by Walter Averall, The Star’s staff photographer. Reading from left to right they are: Upper row–C. H. Morris, J. S. Ward, trainmen. Lower row–Conductor H. Purcell, Conductor I. C. Clary, Trainman M. E. Gilmore, and Fireman S. A. Bates.”

“H. Purcell” was rotary conductor Homer Purcell; “I.C. Clary” was rotary conductor Ira Clary, who later, upon James O’Neill’s promotion, became super of the entire Cascade Division, retiring sometime in the 50s; “M.E. Gilmore” was actually a Brakeman, not a trainman; and “S.A. Bates” was Sam Bates, fireman on the # 27 Fast Mail. A couple of these guys, Clary and Bates for certain, took a real beating in the avalanche, and it’s amazing they were evacuated off the mountain so soon, and how good they all look in the photo.

With regard to a couple of other names in the photos, the Star reporter apparently heard J.J. Mackey’s name wrong – it was J.J. (James, or nickname “Jimbo”) Mackey, not "A.J.". Also, the Irish minister’s name was “Thomson,” not Thomas. It’s also sometimes given as “Thompson.” The one name you say you can’t read (Seattle P-I, March 4) is Albert Mahler, a Seattle real estate dealer.

Thank you so much once again, Karen, for making these articles and photos available.

Roy Kristiansen
Seattle, WA

Newspaper Accounts of the Wellington Avalanche

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