The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-01-06
MONDAY MORNING. JANUARY 8.
steamboat E1pIOslOn.!Dsath Of Capt.
george W. norton.

uenmboRt ExplottOnsssge4tu " Oupb-
george w. AorlOn.
We are panied to announce this
morning another OF those distress
ing casualties whereby number Of
human lives have been sacrificed, and
an additional number OF victims more
or less Injured. A dispatch from Gin
clnuati informs as that the steamer
Harry Dean exploded her boilers about
Zen O'Clock Saturday morning, some.
where near Gallipolis, and that among
those killed and missing is Captain
George W. Norton, of this city, who
was on bis way from here, where he
had been spending the holidays with
his family, to his place of business at
Ironton, Ohio. II seems probable,
from the dispatch, that he was Killed
outright by the explosion and blown
oyerboard. So far as we were advised
\ yesterday no trace Of his remains have
Vet been reported. His brother Fred
eIek,had repaired to the scene Of dis.
astes, from Ironton, but was only able
4SaolRrm the truth OF the melancholy
t1Ihss given in our dispatch.
rhs news OF Capt. Norton's death ex-
Jlted q widespread feeling of sorrow
and sympathy on Saturday, as fast as
iEbecane known. He had large &C.
dualntancs In the city, having been
III many years one Of our most promi.
nent, actlye and influential business
citizens. In times gone by, he was iden.
tilted with our river interests as a
commander in the Union line, and az
forwards In the trade between Louis.
vile and New Orleans, and still later,
he had more nearly associated him
self with the city as one Of her leading
iron manufacturers.
The death OF one thus well known,
under such distressing circumstances,
could not fail to excite painful sensa-
tionin tive community among the peO-
pleecnerally. But among his special
and particular friends, the news Of
Captain Norton's untimely end came
like bolt nom a clear sky. He had
only len them last Thursday morning,
and certainly with prospects Of health
and life OF such character as TO excite
no mIsgIvIng that he had bid.
den them a final farewell. In.
deed, we never saw him in more
apparent robust health, or in better
spirits. During hIstwo weeks sojOurn
he visited our office frequently, as was
his wont when In the city, TO read the
papers and converse upon the various
political and business topics OF the day,
In all Of which few men took a more
lively Interest. He never seemed more
hearty in this Characteristic interest
than during his stay, and we have
rarely listened to his conversation,
comprising as It always did wide
range Of practical information and OBJ
servation, with more general interest
Little did either he or we suppose that
those were his valedlctory words, and
that the brain and voice then so busy
With the concerns Of active life were so
soon and suddenly to bs stllled by a
mysterious stroke Of tate. We say mys-
teriouS stroke of fate, for such indeed
would seem to be the blow whereby be
fell 10 the full possession OF his bodily
and mental strength. He had engaged
his passage on another boat, and had
even brought his baggage up town In
the expectation Of leaving on her. But
she passed our wharves without land
ing, and thus II happened that he took
passage tine next day on board the Par.
kersburg packet, and connected at
Marietta with the Inflated steamer
Harry Dean.
Capt. Norton was born at German.
town, Pa, and was about IS yearA old.
Hsand his two brothers, E. NJ. and +.
D. Norton, were left fatherless when
quite young, and all began life "a nail.
era In one OF the Pennsylvania facto'
asa. Energy OF character was trait
In common to all Of them. Captain
Norton WAS we'll fitted for the various
positions he was called TO occupy at
different times. His address, CONVEX.
AationAl powers, general Intelligence
and quick aud close perceptions, mnde
him nm unusually bright and capable
man. He aud his brothers came 10
this city Ia the year 1916 and since
that tune have been largely engaged
In our iron interests. Lnllorly their
operation. have been diverted 10 Iron.
ton, Ohio. ut which place they have
sueceaAinl Nail mill. and also Fur.
mace nearly completed. The Captain
was In large part, the manager and
director Of the concern. and at the time
Of his death wHS fully absorbed with
the prospects Of his experiments in that
new field OF hia lRbors. But death has
cut short all his 1peotatIons, and tn
ken from the family connection kind
and Indulgcnt husband, parent and
brother, and from wide circle Of
friends one OF iW most popular mem
hers, and from society at large an nC'
live, enterprisIng and useful citizen.