The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-06
CAPT. HILLS DEATH.
It Calls Forth Many Words of
Sorrow and Respect.
STORY or AN EYEWITNESS.
BE Was smothersd by His osercoat,
Not Drowned AN Army Comrsds
Taiks-Ths Fansrai Pageant


The sad death OF Captain George D. HiIi sss
The subject OF general comment In tbs city gsx-
ferdnT, and many were the ex prsssions o. re-
rrst ~ MS untineiy end. The accident proves
to nave occurred AZ Anacortes sud 10 u FAR.
haven. rs was stated In eriay's PosTIsTFL-
L1sEscEE through a misuDder sandi8g 0i the
telegram. The remains we're brought 10 ,ma
city By ihs steamer Eastern Oregon which ar
yiyea Al the Ocean dock at 40 yesterday even.
snes sad were IN charge OF Jhoma- Psnnimsn.
OF this city. who was with Captain Hill wnea
the accident occurred The body was taken -
Bonney q Stewart's undertaking rooms. The
mineral VIII take piscs at the Armory ct
O'Clock tomorrow, and the procession bids fsiF
- be as large as any IN the history OF Seattle.
how ms DEATH occUggxD.
II appears from the accounts OF eye.witnesses
that Captain Hills death was cansed. nos ~
drowning. bat By smothsring. r. r. LaGn,
mste OF the Eastern Oregon. who pulled tbs
body out OF the water. gives the only exact &C.
count OF how the accident happened. Follow
ing II his story.
II was standing on the port bow when the
steamer slowed MP to make the landing NJ Ana,
cortes at $50 O'Clock last evening IL WIS
dark N Egypt, but by the lights saw several
men on the dock. When we were s.iil about
thirty feet from the dock saw sornsoae, wear
ing heavy overcoat with large cape. walk
down the darkened slip. / saw tat
the man thought the gang pignk
extended TO the steamer, ami / was in
the act OF yelling 70 him. when he stepped OF
the slip and sank into the water. which was
about f0ur feet beneath. He did not sink out OF
sight, but the heavy car around his shoulders
waved over his head, down over bis face.
waited minute or more, but the captain did
not struggle, and, fearing he would sink with
out having chance 70 grasp rope dumped
IN sitter him. A. Johnston, the second mate.
threw me rope and they pulled us both ont.
"As soon as caught hold oil the captain
thought he was dead. judging by the touch. In
reaching the dock. 10 be pulled up. held the
captain around the body AMI his head ;hampei
against piling. bruising the skin slightly As
soon ~ he was pulled out found that life was
not extinct and worked with him. pumping
the water from his lungs by kneading and roll
Ing him. In the meantime two doctors. for
whom Captain Joe Green had sent. arrived. and
they also did all they could to bring him back
70 life. but without avail 1t was fully forty-hve
minutes from the time ne fell into the water
until we gave him up IS dead. He was in tine
water 81 least four minutes before he Was res.
cued. and the doctors say he was suffocsted by
the heavy cape pressing against his face He
never uttered sonnd when he went H.
I'VE carried the captain on board the steamer,
which had been delayed about hour. He
was put In the smoking.room on the lower deck.
and there Robert Ehman, the bartender, and
myself assisted bis friend. Mr.. Penniman. TO lsy
him out and prepare the remains for burial
against his arrival in Eeattle."
when the body was taken TO the undertaking
rooms IL was examined by Dr. George ii. Spar
ling. He und that four ribs on the lef eide
weYe broken. and discovered several buses on
the forehead. IL is supposed that III Sc wounds
were caused either by the body striking against
the edge OF the slip while falling or by flow
from some log In the water.
At the time Of the drowning Mr.. Psnnimaa
was standing some distance away and knew
nothing Of the occurrence until Captain Hill
had been pulled ont on the dock. He says the
chilling effect Of the exceedingly cold water
Cortri buted largely 70 cause death.
CAPTAIN HILLS CHARACTERISTICS
j. T. Ronald who was . member OF the com.
miftee which examined his accounts a. the
time Of his retirement from the ofhcs Of county
treasurer, denies that that committee was hos
tile TO Car tain Hill. He said: 81 was as good
friend Of Captain Hill IS he ever had and when
we ne would meet mo on the street he would
shake hands with me as cordially as any man.
hight up to the day OF his death. The balance
Of the committee were just az friendly 10 him
% myself Mr.. Parsons was fair. impartial
man and Mr. HUGHES and Captain Hill were
both prominent ODD Fellows and were warm
friends. II Is great mistake 10 say that any
member Of that committee was hostile TO Cap
tain Hill
my opinion OF the shortage 10 that II Just OK.
acfiy amounted to what the experts found IL to
be- There Is no possibility OF explaining it
away on the ground of errors because every
cent oil the shortage is referred TO in the report
Of the committee and In the evidence now
fle In the case. by line and psge aud book. 80
that IL is just as plainly shortage as that two
and two are four. The principal work of the
investigation was done by Messrs. Hughes AM
Parsons, but during the course OF the tr ais
have had occasion TO check IL M aud prove il
many times. Ii shows that every error has been
lifted by the experis- The cases Will DO reyivea
against the administrators aud pushed to final
Judgment
II regret as much as any OF Captain Hills
friends in the city the very sad terminaio on OF
his life am certain that he never thought
was uniriendly or hostile TO him. becsuse m&ny
are the conversations ne and have had sboas
this unfortunate matter. sheriff Mc3raw, Judge
Hauford and lots Of men can testify 20 the
friendly relations OF Captain Hill and myself.
Personally, I think ne was big-nearted
generous, whole-soued man, n man naturally
possessed OF nigh sense of honor, wbose mis-.
'ortune il was 10 be too long entrusted WITH
sarge sums OF money. some of WI Gu he used in
The expectation of paying 1t back on the day Of
accounting. That was his mistaken nos hay
ing strength enough 10 live within his legitimate
income. He was too liberal aud too lavish with
his friends. and believe every dollar Of public
money which he is snort weat for the bsneai OF
his friends. He q charitable man. snd %
my certain knowledge gave larye Sums annually
10 poor people He would indorse note 80
s,antly at the reqHs st of every scqaaintsne he
hsa in the county. aud | know OF some instances
wherein he has had these notes to pay.
.He has always assured bis boudsnen hat
they should not lose anything by reason o. She
suits against him. and haze been tnIorme %
good authority that he has kept ms property Ia
eaeh share that his bendsmen could Te.ors
10 e IN cgss OF adverse Judgment in these csse..
am also informed thar he had s59o09 life
policy pay able in such shape as 10 prevent his
bondsmea from sufsriug in case of his des gh
herors an adverse decision. As 70 the latter
statement, have no personal knowledge.
Az ARMY ooNRAnE TALKs.
Dr. Frederick Sparkling said: III have known
CAPTAIN Hill for years. and knew him q wagm
ard true trent We both served IN tue var, Ia
Michigan regiments. aud | well rememb
brilliant military career. when the war hfoSe
out ne was too young and snsl b ist - a
soldier 80 he went In a musician OF resl-
meat which went cut from Lansing. he eufers4
the service IS private Of Contrary j, Tairc
infAntry, May ~. 1851 He WAS subsequently
promoted 70 be sergeant toen hTst aai second
Iientenanfs and Tor gallant deed o. Mare 70
lss5. in which be los his aim. ne was appo,nI41
captain.
,Tne captain, myss snd several othes 6ran&
Amy men ore aaiEed Stevens Post Ia Gs7N I
was Appoin ed provisional deparsm nj commau-
der. aud after holding ofice for ak years 1 To-
signed. CAPTAIN Hin Was faen elected cormau.
der Of tae territory of Msshlngson. Hs OF.
rsnsyed rests in eveEy portion q the tsrr.i orF
and y as always foremost ia al. matters pertain
.nr 20 he welfare o. she @. A. r. Re also &c
Longs TO The osier OF the Loyal Legion Of sAe