The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-05
Drowned From a Steamer
Gangplank at Fairhayen.
VAIN EFFORTS TO SAVE HIM
The Body ! Recovered and win Are
rive in Seattle This Morning,
conspicuous Figure in the Histosy 81
seatiis-His War Record and Absistv
rs Leader OF Men-Ths C.n.,-
Treasurership Shortage.

Captain George D. Hill, Of Seattle. :.
drowned at fairhaven tonight while sstsmptsps
20 BOARD the steamer Eastern Oregon" wss ths
dispatch flashed over the wires iram pcrs
Townsend iasi night, and received By shc PosY.
iNrELLIGENeER at O'Clock this morninr.
Captain George D. Hill ia drowned, such 1.
the fate OF the man who once stood in the Tors
most RANKS of public and business ren Il, pp~-e
sound, wao. though since fallen from hin pro,r.
inens posstios, had ss Wide an acou,snf.rr.
as any OF the men who lived in seattle dur,,v
the days OF her early struggled Later At nivhs
the fol owing dispatch Was received from pors
TOWNSEND:
PORT iowNsEsp. Dec. L-Cspsasn George n
Hill walked on the gang plank ss Fashasen Il
1oeiocS this evening wnile boarding. the Fam.
ern Oregon. First Mate Leighton jumred ovev.
board after Mr.. Hi. but only suececdod IN =.
covering his lifsless body Ihs potv eos =
Seattle on the Eastern Oregon.
George u. Hill was Great man ,xs,er s.~,s1.
was avillage, and he was stIll great when ths
village grew to be city. The news OF his
tragic death viii be sad blow to his MANY
friends OF long standing. not cnly In Seattle, bus
all over the state and in the asf.
CAPTAIN HILLS EARLY Irrn
Georse D. EilI was born in Lorraine county.
O., some hity years ago. While he was young
his family moved TO Michigan. and his hovhood
WAS spent on farm il Inxhsr
county OF that state. AT the breaking ous
OF the civil war. Mr.. Hi. then vesy young
man. was one OF The first to 20 to the front
He enlisted as chief musician In the Thiyd
Michigan infantry. The regImsrtal band wss
Boon dismissed. and no went into the regular
service OF the regiment He was In the f1t
aud the last battles OF Bun Run. and
he fought In most OF the battles oil the reuinsu-
lar ampaign under General Mcclellan when
his time had expired he re-enlssted In the
cavalry as sergeant He went through the
shenandoah campaign and the Others with thu
gallant Sheridan. His fne record won hin
speedy promotion, and when the war closed he
was captain.
Captain Hill enlisted In the regular army
when peace was declared. During tho yens1
that followed he Was stationed af Piattsbareh
n. l.. as recruiting Officer. aud he was also
connected with the court-martial at Lexvcn-
worth, Kan.
Caytain Hill was very proud-and with good
resson--of his military record Toward the
close of the war he served on the STAFF OF Gem
eral Pail II. Sheridan and ft was on
April .. 1855. at Appomastox, that he lost hfs
ARA. During the heat OF battle he vas sent 81
his commander 70 carry Z naeosafo
to distant part Of the field where the 1ghs wan
the hottest lie rode under fre and delivered
the message, bus rehel bultet
struck him in the arm and the empty sleeve hzs
worse was his badge Of honor fog that day. He
drew q captains pension fer this disability.
HIs PUBLIC AND POLITICAL LIFE
Captain Hill came to Washington in 1s7e from
Michigan. having been sent to investigate In.
dian affairs at Nesh bay and Tulslip ana after.
wards appointed agent al Tulsiip. 81 the time
when the Indian bareau was connected with
the war department, and Was afterwards made
permanent Indian agent ct Tuialip and eise-
where in this state He was then on the re-
tired list OF the regular army - captain. In
1874 he was elected treasurer OF King county.
and was reelected repeatedly until lSS6 and
retired in March. 1ss7. During the tine he
held that Office he was the recognized leader ~
the Republican party in King county, and wao
one OF the leading Republicans Of the sfafa He
was member OF every territorial and fc0uuiy
convention for years, and held the party To-
sether in its hours of defeat He was appoint1d
brigadier-gene eral OF the ststs militia. and hsId
that office up to two years aga He was dsle-
gate to the Republican national cOnvsntion
which nominated Blaine for president In le8k
He was one of the leaders among the lGg-ab1d.
ing citizens who opposed the snti-Cnfneee riot
ers in 1855. In 1854 he had been reeiected
county treasurer by majority of only votss
and was not candidate for nomination at tho
next convention.
Captain HIlPs aggressive character had rnsie
many bitter personal enemies. and the triumph
of the Peoples party in iaS6 was used % crIsa
him. Before the expiration OF bis term -
March, iSs-, charges were made that IN invs4re
CATION of his accounts would show shostsses
and the frst act of the new commissioners ~
10 appoint committee OF invesfiRafaon. con-
sisfing of J. II. Parsons. W. II. Hughes and J.
T. Ronald Mr. Ronald was then pfosscuting
attorney. and had little 10 do with the insssfi-
CATION, in fact Mr.. Parsons was manly de-
pended upon for resrlts Tie commiises
was regarded By Captain Hils hiende
as beiux hostile to him. IL reported
shortage OF between s6i,a00 and t62om
second eommiss on. composed OF tne late Y. y.
Rasin, d. T. Wheeler and Ed Wheeler. wss ap-
pointed and examined the books ana toana
tnai Captain Hill was nos oefsui'sf, Dus tnas
the county owed him $il Five OF six anulct
ments were foand against him based on ne
facts alleged in consequences the hrst commit
tees investigation. several civil suiss Wefe
also brought against his bondsnen. among
whom were Governor Ferry, ]. +. MeNaugnh
James McNaught II. !. fesier, hi.oJ nut
Ter, G. C. Pninney, J. W. George sna seofss y.
Harris. He was not tried on tne sfImlus4 ~
charges, the disposition being 20 aWais me ussl-
sIor On tise civil charyes before he WAS tried on
the cripiual cnargex Judgmsnss were nad ~
the United States district court for sums sres.U
bsloy the amounts claimed. ana aariak sae
vresent session Of the supreme court fnees cases
we're argued and suomitfea
Af.er bls retirement from political once Aap-
tain Hi vas for short time In the nfo1slAks
business ON Yesler aseuse -
ship with W. Scott. fne liza ~
beinr ain Scot Il Co. he En nncs
sollawea no regular business. bot nha
consiae-ssle property In Seattle ana - ot1a
roints on the sound. Hs wife wss osRes y
large tract OF land on Fids 90 isianas sas1s .ar
sca,,ss ,a,s IL and. rs executor Of ne7 exist
ans ore os her heirs nc was one o. spe 'l1ss
orlrinal owners OF that islsna, hailt 2 snmas.
cottage al Anaeortes and maas
money by the growth Of tnas tosA
ms social RFlAuoss
Mr.. Hin was married ssghiesn yssns 80 go q
Mis- Eaea X Keliogs. slstef q -. $3.50
Kellove. Of tais cifT. o. C5ies 6Aia1es Asasss'
SO og 1-e E,ishn p. Fesry. A few moaIhs
fore fns marriage. while he was inl.hn at'ns
a. r,,gf = - ssartsd 20 10 horseback rsai1s -
NJ Keister As she WAS s1oasElx e.
.ss-,ss s,..s sna was sarewn 70 fne gfoune- Ahs
fsIl t,.i,sTga her SPINE ard she HAs e ~ -
for life, she bore him four enisafe1'
sic K sllors, young ssty q Y, 40 :, ~. -
the Ann1e Weighs seninhsg = q, : v.sTsa
wa.d, poy of u: Cary, Assa s,ss !. - sn<sssf
Q. captain Hill wss oesoss ,.s a. 80.
- ali his loag married lie. nS Nss
,gsA ,ssys. vssrx ago whgis he ehsfgss ssn
birc ware being ingessigafed. saf - Sa..1
go. t.,.',sfr- .feoe oi land ~ f1e neAEs es
ma A. nov Anscorxs no 1an
siderable property hessae@ 80
also declared thst ~ .s4,s~a -