Document text
Folklore
Circumstances of Interview
STATE- Washington
NAVE OF WGREER Verna L. Stamolis
ADDRESS P.O. Box #112, University Station, Seattle, Washimten
DATE Dec. 21, 1938, 11:30 a.A.
SUBJECT Pioneers
1. Name and address of informant Charles A. Kinnear, 1010
4th and Pike Building, Seattle
2. Date and time of interview Dec. 21, 11:30 a.m.
3... Place of interview Offices of G. Kinne r uo.„ 4th and Pike Bldg.
4. Rare and address of person Alo put re in touch with informant
Frank R. Atkins, 608 Olympic Place, Seattle, Washington.
5. Descripticn of roo s suite of offices, well furnished; an old-
fashioned safe in entrance room.
V.L.Stamolis Folklore
THE BOAT FOR OLYMPIA
"When I was a boy, my father and I were down on the beach at the
edge of Seattle one day. He turned over sore small boulders a foot or
Sc. in size each way, and showed ne the tiny crabs which scuttled out
from under. They were nbout an inch long. He told me to find an old
con and gather up as many of the crabs as I could find and put them in
the can. We would go fishing the next morning at Yesler's Wharf, and
use the little crabs for bait.
"On the way home he told me we •should have to get up early. I asked
how we could wake up in time. Be answered that everybody in Seattle got
up by the boat whistle, the boat that left for Olympia each day. Its
whistle blew at six o'clock, half past six, and a quarter to seven.
"The next morning there was a thick fog. We could see only a ?Wizen
feet ahead. As we were going down toward the wharf, we saw ahead of UB
two tell men wearing long coats and silk hatn. e found out later they
were two preachers.
"The two men came to a wide doorway barely visible in the fog. They
entered and sat down on a bench near the door. There was a huge engine
in the room, and a caretaker who was looking after it.
"My father went on down to the wharf. But I st,od outside a window
looking in and listening through the door which was open an inch or two.
After about ten minutes, the two men showed signs of restlessness, and
at last, one of then asked the caretnker, 'What time does this boat leave?'
"'What boat?'
"'Isn't this the boat for OVimpia?'
"'Hell, not This is Yesler's Sawmill. The boat for Olympia left ten
minutes am.'"
Stamolis Folklore
PIECES OF ROPE
"A young man, a Mr. Reynolds, held in high esteem by all the
citizens of Seattle, left his hone one morning for his place of
business down town. had been recently married to a beautiful
young woman. S'le cane down to the gate with him that morning. Ile
kiesed her good-bye and went darn the :Areet while she stood watch-
ing him.
"Suddenly two man appeared in front of him with revolvers in
their hands and conmended him to give them whatever money he had.
Instead, he re!--ciled for his revolver. The two robbers shot at the
same instant. Mr. Reynolds fell to the sidewalk dead.
"The whole town was soon in an uprocr. The old fire bell clanged
its summons. Men cane running from everywhere. They were informed
of the terrible affair and told to search in every porsible place for
the two murders. They scattered about the streets, the woods, and the
wterfront. Every place was watched. iioles were bored in all small
boats so that no ono could creel* by water.
"That night, one of the non on guard in the streets, trod on
something that went soft under his feet. hie stooped down and found
it to be a rubber boot with a human foot and leg insid it. he pulled
the ran out from under the sidewalk where he had been hiding, at the
sane tine yelling for help. They found the second bandit a few feet
away.
"The next morning a brief trial took place et Yosler's store. In
the meantime, the town sheriff had taken a boat aJross the Sound to
Eltsap County, thus shirkin- all responsibility for whatever happened.
"The two murders were taken over to Tesler's home where a row of
maple trees had grown up. A strong timber had already been placed
Pieces of Rope V.L.Stamolis.
across the branches of two trees standing side by side. The men were
strung up. The streets were filled with people, men, women and children.
"The crowd was in a sort of frenzy. Len of the town stretched
out their hands eagerly to get hold of the ropes. They kept raising and
lowering the culprits, keeping time to a
'Heave, Leave, Ho:'
The scalps and faces of the men were terribly lacerated when they were
bumped with great force against the overhanging timber. They tried to
shield their faces and heads with their hands and arms. It was an awful
sight.
"The mob was not satisfied with tla death of the two murderers.
They rushed to the town jail, ad with heavy timbers broke open the doors,
dragged cut a prisoner there, took bin down to the place of execution
under the maple trees, end hanged him also. This man had shot a police-
man who had run after hi r at nicht. The man, not knowing it was an officer,
but believing it to be a robber, shot his pursuer. The policeman died the
next day. Before he died, he told people that he himself w -s to blame, for
he had not told the man he was an officer, and he was not wearing his uni-
form.
wrbe three men were left hanging en the crrss-beam untl four o'clock
that day. '"e boys climbed up on the fence and cut off pieces of rope
hanging from the necks of the dead men.
"The bodies were cut down and carted off late in the afternoon, and
buried in the Potter's Field. Two men were put into one rough casket,
and the other man alone. Long ends of rope were left hanging from the
coffins, and those ropes were held up while the earth was filled in, so
that they lay along he ground outside the graves.
"The boys and girls of the town used to go to the Potter's Field and
Pieces of Rope V.L.Stanolis.
-3-
pull at these ropes to see what would happen. We boys went to school
wearing pieces of rope tied to our suspenders, and the girls with pieces
of roe tied to their pigtails of braided hair.
"For a long time, Seattle was a peaceful, law-abiding place. Peo-
ple did not even lok their doors at night."