Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-08-31

IN sA1o " aO 10 VI w ~
Captain FL. s. Lubbock, sdperintend-
ing inspector for the First district, re-
turned recently from a tour of inspection
of steamers in the Portland district.
Since his arrival here his attention has
been called to an article lately published
in regard TO what women can do and are
doing in the way Of earning a livelihood.
The article spoke of a lady who was en-.
gineer Of u steamer on the Columbia
river, and thinking that a history of the
far one might prove interesting a Chron.
icle reporter called on Captain Lubbock
with a view of learning something of this
paragon. She is not an engineer, as was
stated, but is master of the vessel. There
is but one other lady captain known
in the United States, who has a
masters license on the Mississippi river.
The lady commander OF the Columbia
was born in Albany, Ore, in 1865, and
lived at that place for a short time before
her marriage with Charles Hill, which
took place in 1883. Mr.. Hill was at that
time purser of the steamer Joseph Kel-
logg. He continued in this position for
| three years, being assisted in his duties
by his young wife. Living economically
all this time they managed to save 81, 0G0.
With THE money they purchased an old
schooner and converted it into a trading
| boat, putting a small engine into her.
Mrs. Hills next step was to take out 3
second class masters license. She had
=, studied navigation and had thoroughly
learned the Columbia and Willamette
rivers while assisting her husband, and
she passed her examination without any
trouble. Her husband obtained an en-
| gineer's license in December, 1886. for
the steamer Minnie Hill TO run from
| Portland to Astoria, a distance of ITO
miles. They then bought a stock of
goods on credit and launched into a trad
ing business at the various points on the
| Columbia river.
Their venture was crowned with sue
cess, and in the second year their business
had assumed such proportions that they
were obliged TO get a large steamer, for
which they paid SD, 600, money which had
been made by them during their irst
year Of trading, besides paying off all in
.dehtedness. They bought the Clatsap
lChief, and on November 90, 1887, Mrs.
Captain Hill applied for and was granted
6. masters and pilots license, and on that
day she entered on duties as commander
of the Clatsap Chief, while her husband
wen on as engineer. A larger stock Of
goods was put on board, as they had
found il profitable to branch out and take
in more territory. Another year fol-
lowed and their fortune was pretty well
established. Captain Minnie Hill and
her husband and their trading were
known all over the Columbia and
Willamette rivers. The captain had
won everyone by her happy dispo-
sitioD, her kindly heart and her charm
ing manners, while the engineer was
equally well liked for his upright and
manly qualities. In another year they
bought the steamar General Newde for
81, 500. The steamer is III sig feet in
length. 90 big feet beam, and has
a depth of hole of five feet. Their bus
mess is flCurishing greater than ever be-
fore. They now carry nearly every ar
ticle that can be found in a general mer.
chsndise store. Engineer Hill runs the
lower deck, where he looks after the
mems wants, and the captsin dickers
with the women OF the upper deck, and
is said 10 be az excellent hand at making
a sbrewd bargain. She steers the chip
of life, ard her husband CALAMITY re-
spends 70 the bells, and goes ahead" or
slows down" az she directs. and a hap.
pier couple is unknown. When not on
the river their HON is in Portland. where
il is said they have accumulated prop
erip to the amount Of about 1926, 900.
Mrs. Captain Hill is a handsome brunette
about five and one-half feet in height,
and weighing about 40 pounds. She
has the happy faculty OF making friends
and no one is more highly thought of
among her large circle of acquaintance
than is Mrs. Captain Minnie Hill San
Francisco Chronicle.