New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-24
ArGTSTrS ZEREGA.

Aup,stus Zerege for over fifty years prominent
citizen of New-York disd yesterday morning al tne
home Of his sonIn-law, Horace Barnard NO 20 East
Thirty-ffth-st, age eighty five years
Mr. Zerega was born I'm Martinique December T.
1sO3. his family. which IS said to have been OF
patrclan blood. having emigrated from Genoa ABOUT
the middle of the last century His father snip
ouncr a man of large wealth and scholastic tastes
eert hin, IN Furopc 10 be educated first 10 England
where he went 10 school I'm London; aiterward no al
tended college in Balhec, France where ne hau lor
schoolmate the late Francis 5. skiddy. Long years
aferward they met in this city under peculiar cfcuh
stances and renewed tho acquaintance Of their BOY
hood Returning to his West Indian home at the age
Of fifteen he made several voyages In his fathers SHIPS
and learned the art of practical naVlgauoh' Nno"
seventeen years Old ne determined 10 Deglh lio ioi
himself Ho went TO 81. 1homas, purchased slh"ii
schooner and sailed between the Islands, establishing
lucrative trade when nineteen years old he was
taken dangerously I'll at St. Thomas. Ills PHYSICIAN
a Danish nobleman, John Uytendahl Baron Won BIT
ton succecded i'm saving his life. TWO years later
vonnp zerera married the doctors daughter, but con-
tinucd his life Of a master seaman
Tho Gulf and the Islands were al that perlou III
fosted with pirates, and Captain zemsa met with
many STARTLING adventures. shortly after MS marriage
he took command of Baltimore clipper ship, which
be sailed under Government convoy between st.
Thomas and La Guayra Frequently his Independent
and daring disposition led him TO break away HOh
the convoy the speed of bis vessel enabling MIN 10
elude the prsucal craft and reach port IN safety In
advance Of the feet His business III
creased and rs removed with his family
TO La Guayra, whore he rapidly acquired wealth
While living there no formed the acquaintance OF
General Simon Bolivar, " RE Libcrator,' and other
leading PATRIOTS aud became warmly Interested IN
their cause During this period lie furnished mum
tlons OF war aud other supplies to the parrot army
and navy, and in 1891 he came TO tho United states
for military equipments, which he purchased III Now
York add Philadelphia and sent to BOLIVAR
On his return to La Guayra he found that his In
creasluc plosuerty had excited the envy and Jealousy
Of the inhabitants. lie managed 10 allay this hostile
feeling for some time but discovering plot to accuse
him OF aiding the opauiilds, "a preteNt Tor sel|hs
his property, he succeeded in escaping In small
vessel with his wife and family. Although his pos
sessions were valued at 100000, he was able TO
bring away only ~ 900 in money In 1885 he
reached Philadelphia, but that city was not stirring
enough as he expressed It, for man Of his energy,
and I'm the same year he came 10 Now-York lie went
al once into the business OF importing coffee IN wnch
he made and lost a fortune Bddlhg ms cieu,ols s
be patient. he returned TO his original Inclination ana
directed his attention once more To me carrying ,rae
by In snort unc ne cslaDuaheu nlllscn a. a., "a
shipping merchant AZ No % soutnst, where he lald
the foundations Of the Il lAhe ms ohly partner
was ifmin Icrnler. VINO dled a lew years ago III
this city, leaving a large fortune. Among the YES,
ses Of this line we're the Queen OF
Clippers and the nartic. The latter commanded ~
Cai,taln stouffcr. celebrity by rtscung over 300
United states troops from the san Francisco, when
the latter vessel fOundcred al sea.
In 1855 Mr. Zerega retired from business, having
amassed what then considered great fortune.
The same year he gi the property at Throggs Neck
with stately and massive mansion which he chrisencd
Island Hail. The entertainments given here by
the family were for many years notable IN New Oyk
soci.ty. For 4 Iuns tine be made Lis home entirely
al Island Hail. but u late years he has spent his
winter. n New. YORK., al the house OF his son nlaw,
Mr. Rarnarl The only association viii which he was
connected was the Newiora Chess Club, Of which he
wac one Of founders and until recently Was one OF
the most expert chess player In the city When
young man be Joined The Free MasOns, but did not
remain affiliated with them after coming 10 New
York He man OF remarkable
memory especially for dates and figures. and he re-
tanned this faculty almost 10 The day OF his death.
III charities were many and liberal, but always
unOstentatous. Many friends and acquaintance
were relieved by him IN time OF trouble and necessity,
bat 80 secretly were his works OF bcncvOlcnce per
formed that often the bencfacfOr was long unknown
Mr. Zcrcga's wife survives him after a married life
OF slxty-thiee years. lIo also leaves siX sons and
three daughters John Augustus, the wei known STOCK
broker Of wall Street. Louis Herman, George The0-
dor, Frndnl1ck Alfred D. and Francis A. horoga
and Louisa A.. wife of Horace BARNARD lawyer. of