The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1868-11-26
DEATH OF CAPT. JOHN 7. WRIGHT.

DEATH UE CAFI. JU6N L. w 1100xs
Late dispatches announce the death In New York
City of Captain John T. Wright the celebrated steam
ship navigator and owner, at the ripe age OF u years
Capt. Wright native of England, and began life
on his own hook as a cabin boy In an English mer-
chant ship. shipwreck resulted in giving him en-
ployment on an American vessel as hand before the
mast. and in time he was promoted to the berth Of
first mate on fine merchantmen owned in New York
City, which piled between that port and Liverpool.
II while in this employ he obtained the sobriquet
of "Bully Wright" which clung to him through life,
by coming off the conqueror in very toughly con-
tested fist and rough and tumble fight with the chief
mate of rival ship who had for years reigned with
most insulting bravado as the "buily of the feet"
He was advanced to the command of ship in 1923,
and in 1884 went master of one of the first sea
steamers which ever piled between Atlantic ports.
From that time he continued in the sea steamship
trade as commander, part owner, and finally full
owner down the last few years of his life. He was
the pioneer of the sea-steamship masters between
New York and Charleston. and was afterwards en-
gagged III the New York and New Orleans, and the New
Orleans and Galveston lines of steamers. During the
war with Mexico he obtained lucrative charters and
performed important services in transporting sup
Orleans to Matamoras Corpus Christi. and Vera Cruz.
He took troops and supplies in the old steamer Globe,
from New Orleans to Vera Cruz at the time General
Scott landed there in 1s47. and especially COM
plmented by Quartermaser Gen. Jessup for the very
valuable services he performed on that OCCASION At
the close of the he took Col j. B. wellers regi-
ment of Ohio volunteers from Mexico to New Orleans
After the war he resumed the New Orleans and Gal
of
New York. and in 1851 went to California. whittier
his active sons Capt Tom, Capt John T.. Jr.. and
Capt. George s. Wright. had preceded him. and were
running opposition on the Sacramento river with
the small steamer West Point which Capt Tom. had
bought in New York of bis father, and taken around
Cape Horn. She worth in that day perhaps $780,
ooo but before the old Captain had been long in Cali
forna he compelled the monopoly, just before formed
under the title of the California Steam Navigation
Company. topay him $4,000 per annum to withdraw
the West Point from the Sacramento river Captain
Wright had also embarked in the San Diego and low-
coast trade with the inferior little steamer Ohio.
but he became the chief owner Of the Goliah and
next Of the hne Sea Bird and with these he
drove very lucrative coasting trade. But misfor-
tunes finally came thick and heavily upon HIM. He
bought the splendid new steamship America in 1854
aud paid for her 500 600 cash. few months after.
while transporting troops to Oregon, she was burned
10 the waters edge in Crescent City harbor. He
gagged in sandwich Island Navigation enterprise the
same year. and also in the Oregon trade. He had the
Sea Bird and West Point at the Islands and the old
rs,hmus, or Southerner, in the Oregon trade. Fol-
lowing the loss Of the America came the wreck and
total loss of the Southerner the Oregon coast in
1855 and Of the West Point in the Islands the same
year. He compelled TO sell the Goliah to keep
himself from bankruptcy, and to order the Sea Bird
t. California for charter. His nature however,
which even extraordinary disasters and overwhelm-
ing calantes could not opelessly crush or totally
dismay He rose above the tremendous pressure OF
all his losses and troubles In six monthe he was on
his feet again financially. He purchased the steamer
Brother Jonathan in 1856, put her in the Portland
trade in opposition to the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company line next bought the fine steamer Pacific.
and in the course of three years of lucrative
| trade In that line amassed handsome fortune-hav
ing received the rich cream of the Frazer River gold
excitement and the Victoria traffic In 1889 Captain
Wright grea: bargain, sold out his line of steam
ers TO Major Hensley and retired from steamship life
| on this coast He went to New Yerk and on the
breaking out Of the again embarked in the pur-
chase of steamers which he chartered to the Govern
ment, and more than quadrupled his already great
fortune before the war closed He had from that time
until his death enjoyed the repose Of life away from
all business pursuits He has left large family Of
sons and daughters, all grown, and mostly married.
His three eldest sons, John T., Jr., Thomas, and
George S. are well known leading steamer owners
and commanders in California, Oregon, and British
Columbia Capt. Wright q remarkable man-al-
most the peer of Vanderbilt as a great steamship
owner and operator. He had shining virtues, and
some prominent defects of character. Many anec.
dotes illustrative of his strong points of character
are extant every port he sailed from, and ii In to
his credit that while of them discover traits
which are not to be admired. the greater portion
veal attributes which both noble and grand. and
manly and generous. He firm, devoted friend.
and SO was he of great capacities Of mind and
of indomitable will who planned grand enterprises
and pushed them successfully through with prodig,
ious energy.
- s--------
THE voTrSa FARcE.-The papers tell OF the "elec-
ton' In Tennessee and of the Radical victory there.
High old election that in which old Diabolus Brown
low DISTINGUISHED whole counties before the day Of
voting and. failing to complete Radical sue
cess by that MEANS then threw out any county which
"a rrsty nf. fha