The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-05-28
JOHN WEIR DICKS.
The Particulars of an Bventful Career

Gernoon, IN the I'D year Oh his age alter long
conflict with disease, which, however, had con.
fined him to his house but few weeks The
Worcester Gazette furnishes the following
very interesting account of his life:
Capt. Dicks was born in Portland, Me-
March goth. 1909, Of Scotch pafentage. He
was educated at Portland; where, among his
classmates; were. Henry w. and St6pher
Iongfellow} and Hon. William Pitt Fessenden
lie graduated at the Norwich, VI. Military
Academy, at - years of age, fitted for college
His father desired him to pursue a oollepe
course, and was averse to his son following hi
own carcee' as 4 Seaman and ship owner. Bu,
the lad had ''bent" for the sea, and sailed a,
Is years old, his father instructing tho captain
to give him ''salt dog and sicken him. This
was not to be, however, and he clung to his
chosen pursuit until permanently disabled, and
was very successful. he was engaged in the
mercantile services sailing from Portland and
Boston, rising to the command of a ship at 10
years old, and visiting every port of consider
able Importance He WAS, for time, in the
East Indian trade, and also served the Hu0.
son Bay Company. His was one of the first
ships into San Francisno at the outbreak of
the gold fever. Here he was offered great in
ducements to remain, but had given his word
to make the round trip and nothing ever In
duced him to break his word. tn ali his mef.
chant setYiee; ct IS years as captain, he never
lost ship, aud lost but one man, who fell
overheard in fit. He was very successful aud
his men always claimed the privilege of sailing
with him second voyage. He was often in
yellow fever ports but his control of his men
in regard to their personal habits, and his at
tendenco ca them when Ill, riade them his
friends
At the outbreak of the war he volunteered
his services in the navy, declaring that the old
flag had sheltered him too often in foresight
ports for him to neglect It's defence, and he &C.
cented service where he could be of use, re-
gardless OF rank or promotion For time he
was on the receiving ship North Carolina at
the Brooklyn navy yard, as drill-inaster in
which his early military education came II
play Very socis toFeVef, he was transferred
to tho gunboat Isaac Smith, as acting master,
and served with the South Atlantic squadron
and participated in the capture of Port Royal.
In " the gunboat returned to New York for
repairs, after which he went out in her as ex-
ecutive officer. On January 30th, G3, his ship
and was captufed ny tho tebels. WHEN be
saw this fate Inevitable, he threw his sword
and pistols overheard, determined that his cap
tors should have as little as possible. The 9th
er officers followed his example. and at the
formal surrender, when his cantain drerted
officer Dicks to deliver Ms SWORD to the COM
narder Of the febels, ships cutlass had to
DO duty fo- the occasion. He was wounded in
this action by splinter in the ankle, and also
received rupture in the groin, which dis
abled him for life, and probably fastened his
e ooam as g. s saten a 70 ohs e. 1 s and to
being, as he often said; i graduate Of three
rebel priaoiis. While at Charleston, his con-
oition, wounded and a prisoner, was greatly
mitigated BY the kindness of Major David
Ramsay, Grand Master of the Masonic frater-
nifty OF the State, who recognized his claim to
brotherhood. Capt. Dicks always spoke of
this service with great tenderness, and declar-
ed that Major Ramsay, although forced by
circumstances to Join In the rebellion, was
loyalist at heart, and often shed tears while
conversing with linn and other prisoners.
After four months in prison he was paroed
and afterwards exchanged and ordered to the
Ohio, receiving ship at Charleston, as execn-
tive officer
He remained in this position from June,
63, for about year, bat disiikng the dizziness
OF such life he asked active service, and was
given command of the Pink, a gun-boat, which
was ordered to James River and was used as a
despatch boat ftoiii Fortress Monroe up the
river under Admiral Sam. Phillips Lee. While
in this service he found plenty of action and
excitement. Gen. Buffers despatch boat, the
in equipment to the Pink, but Capt Dicks de-
ciared that if the Greyhound had more steam,
his crew must Beat her by good seamanship.
Accordingly. on one occasion on trip down
the river, the Greyhound had the lead, when
Dicks directed his wheelman TO "steer her.
into side passage. The g heelmau remon-
strated that the boat would go aground, when
Dicks replied: Man, went through here be-
fore you were boin.'' The order was obeyed
and by funning through various "short cuts"
OF this character, the Pink put in appearance
at Fortress Monroe ahead of her competitor, to
the wonder of all. While on the Pink he fell
while crossing from it to the Admiral's vessel
to deliver dispatches, increasing his rupture,
He was in the hospital at Norfolk for while,
but being satisfied that he should not be able to
do duty again, lie resigned his commission
without asking to be put ON the retired list, to
which he was clearly entitled.
After the war closed he somewhat improved
IN health, and for a time was in command of
the Ceres passenger Steamer-palace from
New Orleans to Havana and Vera Cruz He
remained iii this service until the line was
abandoned, when he retired from the sea and
came to Worcester in 1866. His only public
connection since he has been here has been
that OF Secretary of the Citizens Exchange,
but he has become quite generally known.
He was truly brave man, but as tender and
lovabio as child. Every one was attached to
him, and he was the life Of every circle in
which he was thrown. About two years ago
be became interested in the subject OF persou-
al religion. and, although he had been a pray
ing man from his youth, he was convinced that
his duty required something beyond that.
W, With him to feel thing to be duty was all
that was necessary, and he made public pro-
iesslon OF religion. connecting himself with
Plymouth church. In his relations in the
prayer meeting and the Sunday school the PEI
cullar sweetness Of his character has been eS-
pecially manifest, and all who have known
him have enjoyed the singular cearness and
fullness of his religious experience.
One OF the episodes Of his career was when
in command of the Lucy Ely saiiug from
Boston to Montevideo anu the Cape OF Good
Hope. He put into Rio for REPAIRS and his
wife, who was with him, was attacked with
on and the vessel was disabled, everything be-
ing blown off level with her deck. For four
days he was dashed to the stump of the mast,
not being able TO 90 to the cabin to care for his
sick wife, bat they weathered the storm and
returned to Rio, where the vessel was con-
denned as beyond repair. Four different yes
sells which he commanded were lost on the
very next trip after he left them, and he
seemed to bear a charmed life and a charm of
luck. He had purchased ticket to 60 on the
Lexington, which was;burned on Long Island
Sound years ago, and only escaped by his
horse falling down while he was was on his
way to the dock. He intended to sail for home
in the Arctic, having sold his ship in London
by order of the owners, but was delayed to Sc
cura certain papers; the Arctic never reached
port. After tifty-three years at sea he was
spared to end his days in peace and comfort
among friends and relatives.
Hewas married As years ago last December,
aud his wife survives him. He has had seven
children, of which but two daughters survive
Mrs. Alfred ID. Warren of Worcester, and
Mrs. Fred Hills, wife of Boston journalist.
He was made Freemason in Amsterdam,
Holland, aud was an honorary member of An
cient Landmark Lodge of Portland. His at
tachment to the Order was based on his appre-
citation OF its principles and their frequent il
lustration in his own experience. He often re-
lated an incident which happened in the China
Seas. Pirates abounded, and other vessels
were suffering in every direction, but he sailed
wherever he pleased without moestation, with
a masonic signal flying at his masthead, and
no one molested him.
He had a wonderful memory, and in CONVEX
sation would give the date of his visit to or de-
parture from any port he had visited without
hesitation. He was modest and retiring, anx-
ious only to do his duty, and ne left promotion
TO take care Of ITSELF He might have secured
more rapid advancement in the navy, but his
object was the best service and he left bis SUI
periors to assign him where he was most need
ed, without solicitation from him as to the
honor Of the position.
His long and active life, his services to his
employers and the country, and the rest and
happiness of his last days make ND pleasant