Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-26
INTO THE LAST HARBOR.
John Re mer, the Veteran Ferry Pilot,
Breathes His last--.Other Obituary


John Remer, the Veteran Ferry Pilot,
| Breathes His Last--.Other Obituary
| Mention.
The flag is displayed at half mast on
the ferry Spencer today, and there is an
| expression of sadness on the countenance
of every member Of the crew. The vet
eran pilot, John Remer. is no more. He
has safely piloted craft, for which he
alone is responsible, into harbor from
| which be will never embark again upon
| the treacherous river of life. Honest
old John W. Remer died at his home. 416
Eighteenth street, at $50 this morning,
| after serious illness of four day. Mr..
Remer had a severe attack of the grip
last winter, but he recovered fully from
1T and was in apparent good health
when the season of navigation opened
this spring. A few weeks ago he paid a
visit to his wife, who is a patient in the
hospital for the insane at Elgin. He
| then contracted severe cold and
the symptoms of the grip returned
aud very soon developed into pneu
monia. Last Saturday morning he was
at his post in the pilot house as usual, but
he complained of feeling miserable. He
went home early in the forenoon think
ing that little rest would make him feel
better. In the afternoon he returned
and put in couple of hours. when he
was forced to give up again and went
home, and he has not been out since
j. W Remer was fifty-five years of age,
and had been in the employ of the Rock
Island & Davenport Ferry company in the
capacity of pilot fer thirtysive years.
He was originally pilot on the Oneats. a
boat that came out in opposition to the
ferry company in 1853, but which ran
but two seasons. when Remer was en-.
gagged by the Rock Island s. Davenport
company. with which he has been stead
tasty since. He was on the old Rock
Island for years, and then took charge of
the wheel of the Spencer when it was
built He was the most familiar figure
about the boat.
He was somewhat eccentric in his m an
ners and dress and one who saw him
never forgot him. He was IN q respecta-
BILE sense, a character about the river.
But he was tender hearted and good ma
tured, and all who knew him liked him.
Capt. Robinson. of the Ferry company,
said of him this morning: Il never knew
John to loose his courage whether in
wind storms or in times when the river
was full of floating ice, and | have seen
him in some pretty tight places. He was
always steady and reliable and could ham
die boat better than any man l ever
knew"
Mr.. Remer leaves wife who is at
present insane, and an adopted daughter;
also sister, Mrs. Randolph, of Du-
buque, who attended her brother in his
| last illness. The funeral will be held at
10 O'Clock tomorrow morning, Rev. G.
W. Cue. offi eating
Grin Thompson, a rapids pilot, is
acting temporarily as pilot on the ferry
SULLIVAN.
| Mrs. Maggie Sullivan died in Daven-
port at noon yesterday of pneumonia,
| aged 90 years. The deceased was sis
ter to the Misses Brennan and MIR Daniel
Brennan. of this city, and the remains
were brought to Rock Island last night
and conveyed to the home of the Misses
Brennan, 6c6 Eighteenth street. from
whore the funeral will be held to St. Jo-
seph's church at o'clock tomorrow
afternoon.
| Mrs. G. p. Rydholm, wife of Prof.
Rydholm, of Augustana college. died at
$40 last night OF paralysis of the brain.
She was born at Burlington. Iowa, Jan.
%, 1855. and had resided in Rock Island
several years. She leaves with her
stricken husband, two sons. The funeral
occurs at / p. m. tomorrow, after which
the remains will be taken to Moline and
later to Burlington for interment.