Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-08-07
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Death Of q Prominent 9teambnat
man and Worthy Citizen.
This community. and especially ia
river interest, has lost one Of its m6sf
valuable and popular citizens 10 tho
death Of Captain Thomas Russell
Smith, commander Of the z. Line
steamer Katie Robbins, which occurred
az his residence, corner Marshall ana
Speed streets, at 5 o'clock last evening.
from Inflammation Of the bowels.
Surrounded BY his bereaved family
and circle Of sorrowing friends he
quietly and calmly departed for
that other shore beyond ID tha
great unknown. For thlrty-two
years Capt. Smith has, boy and man.
piled the waters Of the Yozoo and Tai
lahatchle rivers On our local packets;
commencing as a cabin boy at The aR0
OF seventeen on the steamer Home.
under Capt. VIM. Moore, from this
position he was advanced to pilot, and
step by step, until he became the most
popular and successful commander
that ever turned d wheel III those
rivers. From the organization Of the
Parisot Line he became identified with
it as a salaried officer, and his demise
will create a void which will be
difficult to ill. Everybody, white
and black, men, women and children.
from Coldwater to Vicksburg. on
Tallahatchie and Yazoo rivers, knew
and loved Capt. Tom Smith, and will
shed a tear to the memory Of the many
kind words, acts and offices they have
received at his hands. No king on his
throne or president Of the nation, was
greater in his realm than was CAPT.
Tom Smith with the people Of his
sphere on the banks Of Yazoo and Tai
lahatchie. In the line Of duty he was
a commander in every sense Of the
term, and the fact that subalterns
sought positions under him spoke
volumes as to their confidence and
regard for him; and they realize
that in his death they have lost a
worthy commander, a true friend and
genial companion. He was anative of
Alexandria, Ohio, about one mile
south Of Portsmouth, was at time Of
his death aged forty-nine years, six
months and fourteen days. He leaves
a wife and mi daughter, Mrs. Alex
Heron, has a brother and sister living
In Portsmouth, Ohio, and was q brother
of Capt. John F. Smith, commander Of
the steamer Headlight. He was an
uncle Of Capt. w. j. and Mr.. Nose
Smith Of this city. He was a member
In good standing Of Vicksburg Lodge
No. 757 Knights of Honor, and Hill
City Lodge No. 10 Ancient
Order of United Workingmen.
under the auspices Of which two soci-
cites he will be buried from his late
residence at 4 o'clock Tuesday even
ing-the funeral being deferred until
the arrival Of his boat Tuesday morn
ing, that his officers and men may par
ticipate in the same.
A striking incident connected with
his death was his IpEompt departure at
5 o'clock, a habit of his life, true
to the last, to sail on time.
Throughout the day and night preced-
ing his death, Id theldeIirious flights of
his mind he was giving orders per-
to the loading and sailing Of
bis boat and among the last audible
words uttered by him were "we are all
ready to 60" At a quarter to Ave
o'clock, whileit was apparent that the
end was approaching, his condition
justified the belief that he
would last several hours. AS
the hands on the little clock
in his chamber approached the hour
his respiration gradually grew more
feeble and less frequent and as the lit
tie bell began to strike he calmly I'm.
bent his lines of life and his spirit
out upon its voyage over the
dark river.
To his bereaved family we tender
our coincidence and with the entire
community mourn the loss of a good
and useful man.