Evening journal., 1888-12-05
DIED or BROKEN HEART.
Pilot william 7. Eldrid se is gsuspended
and Dies from the sense Of Disgrace.

Pilot William 7. Eldrids e is suspended
and Dies from the sense Of Disgrace.
Pilot William T. Eldridge, who wa
suspended by the Board of Port Wardens
on Monday for running the American
Line steamship Lord Cough ashore near
Dan Baker shoal in October. died at his
home at Cold Spring, Cape May county,
4 y. j., yesterday morning. His friends
/ say that the direct cause Of his death was
/ the worry and anxiety caused by the
action Of the board. When he was in
/ formed Of their decision on Monday nipht
/ he dropped his head on his breast and de-
| jectedly remarked that he was disgraced
for the first time and in his old DAYS and
he did not think he would survive ii.
/ He Went to bed about 10 o'clock and
passed a restless night. Yesterday morn
| ing he arose, and very much depressed.
! did not eat any breakfast. He looked
worried and uneasy and his wife re-
marked that he did not look well. He
made no reply but went into the yard.
After he had been absent long time
Mrs. Eldridge went out and found him
sitting on bench dead His head was
hanging over his breast and his hands
hung limp and lifeiess By his side
The evidence before tile board showed
that on October . Mr. Eldlidge boarded
tie Lord Cough at the Delaware Capes
lie started MP the bay III tho midst 81
gale Of wind. Just below Dan Baker the
weather Shut down foggv and rain
squat came out from the westward
making it impossible for Mr. Eldridga 10
see ships length ahead. He slowed the
steamer down and was going along under
malt speed, when suddenly big three
masted schooner doomed up on the port
bow lie threw the wheel hard. d port
and rung the bells 10 I'd back. Just clear
ing he vessel As the steamer went
astern She struck the soft bottom ana lav
there for little over the hour As the
tide rose she tioated and came off without
any damage
Upon landing, Captain Hughes. Of the
Lord Cough, filed complaint with the
Board Of Port Wardehs charging the
Pilot Eldridge with negligence. The
matter was referred to the Committee on
Navigation and Pilots for investigation
and inquiry was made concerning the cir
cumstances under which the accident oc
CURED For weeks, while the decision Of
the Port Wardens was pending. Eldridge
was very much disturbed ia his mind
and when it was rumored that the Port
Wardens intended to deal severely with
bis case. he besought his friends. with
tears IN his eyes, to plead with them in
his behalf ana use their influence to Sc
cure a mitigation of his punishment.
urging that no damage resulted from the
grounding of the Lord Cough and that
the accident would not have happened
mad not Captain Hughes urged him to
take the steamer up the river as quickly
rs possible.
When the Board of Port Wardens met
on Monday last the Committee on Navi-
CATION and Pilots presented its report
recommending that PILOT Eldridge should
be suspended for three months. and TINT
his eyesight should be examined before
the renewal of his license at the expira-
ton Of the period of his suspension. The
Port Wardens We're not unanimous in
their approval of this recommendation
and Master Warden Ross endeavored to
have the suspension shortened to one
month. His efforts were not successful
and the recommendation Of the committee
was adopted suspending the unfortunate
pilot from following his occupation for
the entire winter
Eldredge was born at Cold Spring more
than sixty years ago. and during his Ell
tire life he made his home there. When
about 10 years Of age he began his life on
the sea, and after serving an apprentice
ship Of seven years he was licensed as a
pilot for the Delaware bay For forty
years he had piloted vessels up and down
the bay without misfortune until the
mlshap that befell the Lord Gaugh while
in his charge He was always looked
upon as competent and careful naviga
tor, and of late years has been CONNECTED
with the pilotboat Henry r. Edmunds
His father spent his life upon the
sea, and he has sons and brothers now
following the same occupation. His
brother, Jerry L. Eldridge, is captain Of
city ice-boat No ,, and sails on the Henry
r. Edmunds in the summer Francis S
Eldridge, another brother, is a pilot sail
ing on the E. G. Knight OF the sons of
the deceased pilot, Ellis Eldridge is pilot
on the Henry r. Edmunds. and Stillwell
Eldridge, formerly a sea captain. is now
connected with the life saving station at
Cape May Mrs. Eldridge and two other
sons and a daughter remain.