Logging Deaths Mount in 1923

1923 was a dangerous year in the woods if you were in Eatonville.

There were nine deaths and two serious injuries to Eatonville loggers. There could have been more, but those were the ones reported at the Eatonville hospitals.

Here are are few of the grizzly details:

• Dan Crabill was crushed to death in May when a load of logs pulled by runaway horses swerved as they crossed the state road.

• John Kalafatich, a bucker working for Eatonville Lumber Company,was killed instantly when a larger tree, hit a smaller tree, which struck him.

• Irvin Kendall was knocked 15 feet and broke his neck when a tree hit the tree he was felling.

* Paul Woock of Ashford and Harry Howell were killed in September. It’s believed they were cutting down a tree and got in line with the haul-back line.

• William J. Howden lost his life when logs rolled off a car.

• Yotaro Sakai was killed by a car that broke loosed and shot down a steep hill.

• Norman Evert, Carol Lobinger and a Japanese man, all working for Pacific National Lumber Company, were instantly killed (one man seriously injured) when a cylinder head was blown out of a donkey engine.

Eatonville Hospital
The only saving grace was that Eatonville did have medical facilities. This picture was taken in 1920 outside the hospital (now a residence on the corner across from the Eatonville High School). Dr. A. W. Bridge, I believe is the man on the far left.

Photo courtesy of Hendrickson Family and Abbi Wonacott.

Click on image to enlarge.