The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-01-29
Captain Harry @. Summers.


The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette. Of
January IS, in speaking Of the death of Mr..
II. G. Summers, who died short time since
in this city says: captain Harry G. Sum-
mers, who died in San Antonio, Texas, on
January IS, as announced in yesterdays Com.
mercial- Gazette, will be remembered by many
steamboatmen and the commercial community
as an intelligent, genial gentlemen of strong
nervous temperament. lie was a native of
Louisville, Ky about S. years Of age at the
time of his decease. Captain Summers was a
member Of the famous Louisville Legion dur
ing the Mexican war, and was distinguished
for meritorious services at the battle of Mon
terey, which lasted three days-September
al, ~ and 23, IS47-witnessing the city sur
rendered to Generals Worth and Taylor. For
some time he was the proprietor Of the Amer
lean hotel in that city. After the close Of the
Mexican war he was engaged for several years
in plotting and commanding steamers
between New Orleans and Red River, and
afterward spent several years in California,
and was engaged in seafaring life on the
Pacific and Atlantic, finally going to South
America, where he was engaged in locating on
the Magdalena river in the Republic OF the
States OF Colombia, with headquarters at Bar
ranquilla. He was the superintendent and
manager OF successful line of steamers ply
ing the "Muddy Magdaline," and superin-
tended the construction Of several powerful
steamers built at Cincinnati by c. T. Dumont,
among which were the States Of Colombia and
the Cundinamarca, the latter powerful and
magnificent steamer, which was never heard
from after leaving New Orleans for Barran-
quilla, having gone down in a. storm on the
Gulf OF Mexico with all on board, and vest
tige OF the wreck never recovered, seen or
heard from. He also had the machinery OF
other South American steamers built in Gin
cinnau by Dumont and shipped to its desti-
nation via New York and the boats put
together and completed at Barranquilla. Ad-
miring the efficiency Of United States Inspector
Lewis, he had all the South American steamers
he built not only enrolled, but undergo nspec-
ton of our Government inspectors. He was
one of the proprietors of the most famous
hotels in that city, edited newspaper, and
being a live, energetic American and fine
Spanish scholar had frequently been offered
lucrative positions in the States Of Colombia
by that Government, and the United States
authorities, all of which he declined. He
finally returnedao the United States, and for
while was engaged in commercial pursuits
in New Orleans, aiterward building his last
steamer, the Anna, which piled the rivers Of
Georgia. He finally located in business in
San Antonio. Texas, where he died last We'd
nesday Of inflammation Of the brain, leaving a
widow, native of the States of Colombia.
He was strictly temperate, and man Of large
general practical information, and highly es-
teemed by all who knew him. He wrote the
beautiful song of the "Muddy Magdeline."
claimed by a dozen spurious authors, which
was sung by the natives, and adopted as the
National anthem of the Republic of the States
of Colombia. He was a natural actor and
delineator of character great student and
well versed In the ways Of the world. He
soon made life long friends wherever he
strolled in any cline. Harry Summers is
dead Peace to his names"