Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-08-24
DEATH OF JIMMY JONES.

The account following of an cratic,
but formerly noted, individual in these
parts is from the Colonist of the 22d
inst:
One of British Colunlbia's most noted
characters. whose celebrity extended
down to Lower California, Mexico and
even South America, ended turbulent
life at the Royal Hospital on Sunday
night last. Jimmy Jones has for nearly
30 years figured very conspicuously in
the c0asting annals of the province, hav-
ing arrived here in 1854. A Welshman
by birth, he left his native mountains in
early life in search of his father, whom
he found in the coal mines of Pennsyl-
vania. His innate love of adventure led
him overland to Salt Lake with de-
tachment of Mormons. and from thence
the ~ excitement in California took
him over the Sierras to that Eldorado.
Four or five years of mining life oOn-
tented him with gold digging, and he
next found himself at work in the Bel
lingham Bay coal mine. Here, for the
first time in his life, he made money,
and with it built or bought a schooner
called the Emily Parker. in which, dur
ing the first Fraser River excitement of
IS, he embarked in the carrying trade
between the Sound and this port. This
schooner ran aground. and was burned
at Ross Bay, after which he built the
schooner Carolena, and sailed her chiefly
in the coal trade between NanaimO and
this port. Another schooner was pur-
chased by Jimmy on the Sound, and
called the Jenny Jones. In this craft
he made few trips to the Columbia,
and about '63 or "a he got engines put
into her in this CITY, but on again going
to the Sound, being heavily in debt, the
Sheriff seized her. Jimmy, however, ran
away from Olympia with the Sheriff's
officer, landed him somewhere on the
Sound, and came over here, where an
other attachment awaited the vessel.
This time the Sheriff was taken of, and
landed between here and NanaimO, and
at the latter place Jones got hint AZ to
where he could smuggle some refuse
coal on board. This was done between
two days, and the vessel waa headed for
johnson Strait and the northern part of
the island. When fairly ont into the
bread Pacific he made sail for the south,
and ran all the way down to Mexico,
where good sale was effected !; but IN
fortunately in the then unsettled eondi.
ton of that country he was cheated out
Of the purchase money, and was glad to
escape with his life. After awhile Jimmy
got 4 situation AZ watohman ON hoard
tho steamer Oalifoxnia. and the first trim
10 this port, by a we'll executed man.
euvre. he got his wife from where she
was staying in the country ON board of
the ship, and away to California. In the
course Of few years his debts hero were
forgotten or oondoned, and the ire
presaible Jimmy returned to this prov
inOe. He sailed the schOonNr Discovery
for Englehardt d Rales, and afterwards
made occasional trips for coal. On one
occasion, while lying at the wharf in
this city. by some means or other the
schooner sunk with q load Of coal ON
bOard. Tho Dominion government
raised the vessel. aud when put mp at
auction Jimmy bought her for a mere
trifie. Poor Jimmy's active and adven-
furious career WAS now drawing to a
Close. The hard life he had been lead
ing and the severe privAtions which he
had endured were undermining q natur-
ally hardy and strong constitution. I'M
til at lat he was entirely disahlod By
repeated attacks Of paralysis, and disd
on Sunday at the age Of about 81. He
married here early in the sixties, and
leaves two sous, one Of whom il engaged
at the SkideQats oil fishery. His widow
10 an inmate OF the lunAti0 Anvlum.