Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1891-04-24
ADMIRAL OF THE TEXAS NAVY.
OF A MAN WHO RECENTLY DIED
IN VERMONT
From the Galveston News. !

FROM Tue bHlNtslOn news
News was received at this city yester-
day announcing the death at Post Mills
village, VT, of Capt. Thomas Chubb.
better known as Commodore Chubb.
The commodore was spending his an
nual vacation at his summer home in
Vermont, and while his friends here had
been advised Of his serious illness, the
news of his death was surprise and a
source of general regret to this COM
munity, where he had lived so long and
was so well known, and where he leaves
number of children and grandchildren
to mourn his loss.
The deceased was about 50 years of
age. and though living to this advanced
age was man of remarkably well pre-
remarkably eventful one and his biogra-
ply would read like a romance. Imbued
with IA rowing disposition he. ran away
from home when quite young, and in
one way and another he followed sea-
faring life up to the time he settled down
in Galveston. and for the past number
of years he has held the position of har-
Dor master, position congenial to him
as means of bringing him in contact
with those still engaged in his early avo-
cation of life.
a recital of the eventful life of Tho
mas Chubb would be part and parcel
Of the early history of Texas. Though
! his boyhood days were spent in Boston,
he came to Texas before the war and
was engaged in the slave trade. When
Texas was engaged in the war of indie
pendence with Mexico the deceased
brought over cargo of arms and am
munition and offered them, with his SER
vices, to General Sam Houston. 1t is
said that the powder which was burned
over the battlefield of San Jacinto with
which Texas gained her independence
was that which was furnished by Com.
modOre Chubb. The friendship which
sprung up between Thomas Chubb and
Sam Houston was lasting and in recog-
milton of the formers valuable service to
the republic he was made admiral of the
Texas navy.
But antedating this period he was one
of the first stevedores that did service
over the Boston docks. 1t is said that he
first introduced the system of unloading
vessels with horse and pulley power
which was such an innovation upon the
then existing custom that the revolution
in stevedore work came near precipiat
ing a general strike. He was one of the
oldest StevedOreS in America. Among
his other ViclS>itudcs of life he was a
one time circus owner and manager
controlling and operating one of the
largest crcuses that travelled through
the South in early days. lie was fol
many years engaged in merchant marin,
service and some time after coming tt
Galveston his occupation was that of 4
pilot. 1t was favorite saying of Nh,
old-time seamen that he was always ''ol
deck, and this might be said of him up t.
the time of his death, as he was al
ways on duty, lull OF nope, energy anC
physical vigor up to the last.
When the war commenced between tn,
States he Joined the Confederacy, anC
was conspicuous figure in the TeXa
navy. He was captured in this harbo
while in command of the royal yacht in
desperate night encounter, his captor be
ing the present Admiral Jouett of tn
United States navy. He was imprison
ed and condemned to be executed. Pres
ident Davis notified the Federal authori
ties that his execution would be retaiat
t ed tenfold, which had the effect of stay
l ing his execution and preserving his lif
t for IA long period of usefulness. He ha
/ a son in business in Vermont, who wa
| with him at the time of his death, his de
4 voted wife being also at his bedside. II
4 leaves brother, a grown son and sew
f.. eral married daughters residing in thi
t community.