W. D. Wood

Before becoming Mayor, Wood was a lawyer and real-estate speculator who developed property around Green Lake.^[5] On April 6, 1896, Mayor Black submitted his resignation to the city council citing illness and a dislike for the job.^[6] Black recommended Wood for the seat, and Wood was appointed after a city council vote.^[6][7]

In July 1897, Wood traveled to San Francisco to speak at the International Christian Endeavor Convention.^[5][8] While he was at the convention, a steamboat returning from the Klondike showed up with "a ton of gold."^[5] Wood would state his resignation while still in California, but his resignation was not officially submitted to the council.^[9]

When Wood returned to Seattle in mid-August and submitted a leave of absence for at least ninety days, which was denied by the council the following day.^[2] He would still go on his trip to the Klondike, and the council stated he would forfeit his seat on October 18 if he did not return, which he did not.^[3][4] After 65 votes, the council appointed Thomas J. Humes to fill the vacancy on November 19, 1897.^[10]