Читать книгу Spooked in Seattle - Ross Allison - Страница 16

The morning of the shootout, Considine, furious over the allegations, went to Meredith’s lawyer to inform him that if Meredith would not retract the claim, he was ready to sue for libel. Considine was told that the town was not big enough for both him and Meredith. Hearing that, Considine called his brother and then armed himself.

It was apparent that Meredith was waiting for Considine. Fully armed, he watched Considine and his brother approach the drugstore. He soon followed with a sawed-off shotgun in hand. Outside the store, Meredith shot John Considine in the arm. Considine stumbled into the store with Meredith following after him. The next shot grazed Considine in the back of the neck, striking the arm of a messenger boy at the soda fountain. Meredith then dropped the shotgun and went for his revolver. Considine jumped Meredith, wrestled him toward the entrance while calling out for help from his brother. Tom Considine grabbed Meredith’s shotgun and struck Meredith in the head, fracturing his skull. At this time police arrived, including Sheriff Cudihee. Tom then grabbed one of their guns and aimed at them, yelling, “Stand back, you sons of bitches!”

Meanwhile, John Considine drew his gun on the wounded Meredith while he possibly was reaching for another weapon. Considine shot Meredith three times, once in the chest, once in the heart, and another time in the neck, killing him instantly. John then brushed himself off and handed his gun to Sheriff Cudihee while surrendering. All of this action lasted about ninety seconds.

July 1911—Seattle police officer Henry L. Harris is shot in the back of the head while standing post at the California Tavern on Washington Street and Occidental Avenue. Before he fell to the ground, he was able to fire two shots of his own. But the assailant was believed to have avoided any hit. No one was ever arrested, and the case went unsolved.

Does the city of Seattle still play out theses tragic events, like a silent movie projected on its cold, wet streets? It is possible that these tragic events from the city’s past could be haunting our present. As you wander at night through Seattle keep in mind you may be holding a one-time movie pass to a rare showing of the city’s violent past.

DOC MAYNARD ’S PUBLIC HOUSE

610 First Avenue

David “Doc” Swinson Maynard is well known for his part in making Seattle what it is today. In fact, he is credited as the “Man who invented Seattle.”

During his time in Seattle, Doc was a vivacious and generous man who loved his liquor. He also gave away cash or land to just about anyone with a promising idea. After all his generosity, he died essentially landless and broke. The rather revealing epitaph on the tombstone of his second wife, Catherine, reads, “She did what she could.” There is a story that the caretakers must reset his stone marker now and again, as it has a habit of slipping into a tipsy position—just like Doc in his lifetime.

Doc Maynard’s Public House is a restored 1890s saloon with a gorgeous carved bar that was shipped from Chicago. Rich with history, the pub is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Doc’s is located in the heart of Pioneer Square and also serves as the meeting place for the world-famous Seattle Underground Tours.