It was a mystery. During the previous 2 months, nine “floaters” had been pulled from the Wishkah and Chehalis Rivers. Drownings in general were not an uncommon event on the Harbor at that time – a longshoreman knocked off of a dock and not missed, a boom-man missteps and slips under his raft, a liquor-besotted sailor heading back to his ship stumbles off of a wharf into the dark waters.

It was the inexplicable spike in early 1907 that drew the attention of authorities and had the town buzzing. For some time, the police had been watching William “Billy” Gohl, Grays Harbor’s Agent for the powerful Sailor’s Union of the Pacific, and known for his volatile temper and propensity towards violence. Gohl was arrested, tried, and sent to prison three-years later for one murder (he is suspected in as many as 100 deaths) and the public placed every unsolved death, fire, and violent crime at his door, including the “Floater Fleet” of 1907. This article was printed in the Aberdeen Daily Bulletin on May 6, 1907 and 113 years later raises the question: Was Gohl responsible for any of them?

NINE BODIES TAKEN FROM HARBOR RIVERS IN LAST TWO MONTHS — The bodies of two more floaters were recovered from the river during the past 24 hours. So frequent has become the finding of floaters that the entire community is aroused, and the sheriff’s office and Constable Dean have begun work with the object in view of ascertaining the manner in which so many men have met violent death.

Nine bodies have been taken from the waters of Grays Harbor in the two months ending today. Of the nine, one man is known to have been murdered, for his throat was cut from ear to ear. He had been dead for more than 60 days and the body was so badly decomposed that identification was impossible. A coroner’s jury pronounced it a case of murder, but apparently nothing has ever been done by the police to investigate the crime.

In three of the nine cases of drowning, two are known to have been accidental, while a third is believed to have been accidental. One of the bodies was that of little Richard Beltz and another that of Raymond Oleson. The police made some investigation in the Oleson case, but in all probability the lad fell from the wharf at Hoquiam where he was last seen. The Beltz boy is known to have met death by the capsizing of his boat. R. Pries, a sailor, was drowned, and his body was recovered. Those three accidents were reported.

Of the other six cases, two men were known to be missing. One was Gus Lindros and another J.B. Meers. Lindros’ body was found some weeks ago, and yesterday the body of Meers was found. The floater whose throat had been cut was never identified. Another floater which had been in the water for at least 60 days was identified as that of George Dayton. Still another decomposed body was that of John Kekonen. The last body recovered from the harbor was that of a young man named Connie Lockett.

Aroused by the frequency with which bodies have been taken from the bay, acting Sheriff Anstie has begun work on some of the cases, and Constable Dean is assisting him. Mr. Anstie entertains the belief that some of the men have met foul play, and it is his purpose to run down the murderers it is possible to do so.

“The finding of a body almost daily would lead one to suppose that the city was infested by a gang of murderers,” declared the acting sheriff yesterday. Constable Dean also regards the matter as one which demands the closest attention of the authorities. Coroner Girard suspects foul play, and the sheriff’s office will make an effort to run down the murderers and bring them to justice. Everywhere the situation is being discussed, and much comment of an unfavorable nature is heard.

About 1:45 yesterday afternoon the body of a man was seen floating down the Wishkah river near the steel bridge. It was secured and taken to the morgue, where it was identified as that of J.B. Meers. Meers was a cruiser in the employ of the Continental Timber company and was last seen about the middle of March. He had misappropriated some of the funds of the company, it is said, and is also declared to have issued some worthless checks. The worthless checks are said to have never been presented at the bank. Meers, when last seen, bought large quantities of wine for women in some of the dead line resorts, and his friends have declared he had a large sum when he disappeared. A five-cent piece was found in his pocket.

Meers was well known in Aberdeen. He had formerly lived in British Columbia, where he was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for killing a man. It seems the man has been beating a dog and that Meers interfered. Trouble ensued and Meers shot the man dead. For the killing he was lauded rather than condemned. He was about 45 years of age and a very pleasant man. Up to a few weeks before he disappeared he had always controlled himself.

Coroner Girard yesterday impaneled a jury, consisting of A.W. Barkley, R.E. Peasley, F.S. Becker, W.W. Maxey, F.P. Porter and Ellis Martin, but the jury merely examined the corpse. The investigation was continued until Wednesday. Meantime 15 witnesses had been summoned, including the dance hall girls who sold the wine which Meers bought. Meers’ brother – Nicholas – will be here this afternoon from Seattle. The brother came here some weeks ago and at that time declared the timber cruiser had been murdered. The body is in such bad shape that it is impossible to determine whether or not the man was foully dealt with.

This morning the men on the launch Thistle picked up another floater in the lower harbor. The body had been in the water only about 10 days. It is supposed to be that of Connie Lockett, whose parents formerly resided at Melbourne, this county, and are now living at Moclips. Lockett worked on the steamer Harbor Belle and was last seen about two weeks ago. Messrs. Bowes and Randolph today telephoned to Melbourne, where they learned that the man was about 20 or 21. This afternoon Coroner Girard and Dr. Chamberlain are making an examination of the body.

It will be remembered that on the night of April 21, the master of a vessel lying at the Harbor dock heard a splash in the water and reported the matter to police. It is believed Lockett was drowned that night. Whether he was thrown overboard or committed suicide is a question. An inquest will be held this afternoon.

Roy Vataja is the son of Finnish immigrants and after 7-weeks in lockdown his couch smells like stale beer and farts.