The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-20
GEORGE ". BLUNT.



Pilot Commissioner George William Blunt
died in his home at % West Twelfth street
ut Gis =. VI. yesterday. He was unconscious
mt the time OF his death. He had dropsy
and kidney disease. which were aggravated In
January last. when hc slipped and fell to the
pavement. injuring his forehead.
Mr.. Blunt was born in Newburyport. Mass. on
the 1lth of March. 1902. His father. Edward
March Blunt. dealt in books. and published in
that city little paper called the Impartial Her.
ald printed on II press once owned by Ben
jamin Franklin. which the publisher bought
for s17. Mr. Blunt. Sr.. wns nlso the compiler
Of the first edition Of Blunt's - Coast Pilot"
George came to New York with his parents when
kept by the father of John Howard Payne
when fourteen years OF age he shipped ~ n
sailor. and after acquiring good knowledge Of
navigation, abandoned the s"a. and married
Miss Martha Garsed. He then wont into busi-
ness In this city with his father. who was n
dealer in mathematical Instruments and charts
OF the coast. The publication of the Coast Pilot
by the father and brothers Blunt gave them u
Wide celebrity among masters Of American and
Shortly after the close OF the lnte war the Gov
eruinent bought thu rights and title Of the Coast
Pilot from Grorg' W Blunt. who had sncceeded
To the business. paying him 500 900. Mr.. Blunt.
who at tnat time WIS financially embarrassed.
paid the entire amount TO his creditors.
In 1866. Mr.. Blunt sold out to Mr.. Robert Mer-
rill, and retired. Up TO 1s26. he was engaged, ,
at times. in surveying the Bahama Banks and
New York harbor. neither of which hnd been
surveyed. In 1884. he found great defects in
the lighthouse system. and urged upon tho
Govcrnmcnt the establishment Of u Lighthouse
Board. but without success until 1852. when the
Fresnel ighL was introduced from France. In
1915. Mr.. Blunt was appointed on a COM
mttee 10 organize system Of pilotage
missioner He held the Office. with the excep-
ton of seven months. to the present time.
Through his Efforts i9e Hqrbor lay was passed
New Jersey AMI New York fishermen refused to
remove their shad poles. Mr. Blunt organized an
expedition against them. He chartered n steam
boat. took srventy-fve police oiiiHers aboard.
and ran down to the fishing grounds. A fight
was nude 10y the ,nshermen;. snots were ex-
changed, ana the bont WIS driven of. On the
following day Mr.. Blunt. or the Shad- pole
Commlssioncr. as he was called. appeared
with larger force. Watch tackles and falls
We're made fast to the large nets. which wers
fastened TO the poles. and many Of them were
Until lsl5 the New York pilots held an op-
pressiye monopoly. In 1857 Mr.. Blunt was
elected Harbor Commissioners. For Ave years
he was Il trustee of the Sranan's Retreat. and
appointed by Gov. Washington Hunt In 1853
he was removed from this latter position by
Gov. Seymour. He viewed the notice Of his dis
missal rs mark OF honor. snying that II was On
account Of strict attention To- duty
which had made him ,y ,many enemies He
from the period when 1t was chartered to sup
ply the city with water. and through the years
OF tS bhllklIlR buSlni IS 10 tie present uNN. lie
was IN Office Tor forty nine years. without pay,
except Tor seven years.
Mr.. Blunts first vote WIS cast in 1929. against
Tammany Hall For many years. he WAS a
noted speaker and worker Tor the Wing party.
and. ike Horace Greeley. he burst into tears
when Henry Clay's defeat was made known.
At the outbreak OF the war Of the rebellion. Mr..
Blunt took stand Tor the Union, and thereaf-
ter was enrolled in the Republican party.
Although having reputation for severity
Mr.. Blunt was exceedingly kind-heHrted in his
private llte Many an Old sailor has applied 10
him personally TO obtain admission into the In l.
sttution AT Sailors Snug Harbor, Staten Island.
He never allowed them to 60 away unsatshed.
Mr.. Blunt was the last survivor Of a family OF
four sons and two daughters. His brother yo-
sepl was prominent lawyer in this city His
brother Edmund was engaged in tho United
States CoHsf Survey. Nathaniel Bowditch
Blunt. the youngest son. died abcnt twenty
years ago while District Attorn.y for thi. city.
No one wus suffered - enter Mr.. Blunt's oilice
either smoking or with his hat on. and upon
swrarin., in his Office he imposed fine. In
decd. he placed IN toe outer Office a tin box.
say ying. Now. this il fOr swcarpr-. Every one
WHO sweags in this. ofice must put ten cents
into tho box. ami If am caught swearing | will
pay twenty. 1his rule WAS enforced on all oe-
rHslons and one day q ssntlcmsn entered the
from his private room and hade him put ten
cents into The box. what iorg" " For swear
ing What is done with the money thus coll
lectedf 2" " Ii is divided between the Plots
Hook Pilots Benevolent Association for the
Benefit Of the Widows and Orphans" The gem
teman reflected moment. and takingas5 bank
note out Of his pOckrtbOlS. put il into the box
swearing AZ some other time" On auothrr or-
casion the owner OF yacnt entered Mr.. Blunt =
office and let drop an oath Mr. Blunt demand;
Ell the ten cents. An explanation followed. and
n the next day Mr.. Blunt received check for
$1,000 as a " swearcr contribution to the two
iunIs 10 be equally divided between them.