New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-12
MIR. BATES'S SUDDEN END.
THE BODY BROUGHT TO HIS HOME.
HOW THE DROWNING occURRED-A SKETCH OF
HIS CAREER.


HIS CAREER.
The news OF the drowning OF Levi NJ ba'es, tlo
former head of the welknown dry goods firm OF L NJ
Bates & Co.. created sensation among MS many
friends and acquaintances in this city, ana a VasO
number OF callers came TO the house No @ot
Madson-ave yesterday to express their sympathy Win
his family. The body was brought to the house from
College Point yesterday morning The funeral VIII DC
held there tomorrow at p. m. The burial VIII DC
at Bristol, Vt.
Mr. Bates who was slxtyeight years DID, was
drowned in Bowery Bay Saturday afternoon oy
falling out OF a rowboat, was related In yeseruaS
Tribune For some time II has been his haoit 10 30
ont In a rowbOat for days pleasure. one OF MS
sons G.. p Bates who is in the tea business at NO.
146 Front-st. generally accompanied him, and they
were together Saturday They went out as USUAL
and early In the afternoon started from foro MOTIFS
for North Beach. The boat was small nghU craio'
and Mr. Bates rowed for awhile until he became tired
In trying to change seats with his son, so that the
latter could take the oars the accident which cost him
his life occurred The water had become rough, ana
as Mr. Bates rose from his seat on the thwart
sudden swell made the boat roll He lost his balance
and was thrown into the water while the boat drlieu
beyond his reach.
Neither Mr. Bates nor his son could swim. and the
son, when he his father drowning, picked up an
oar and threw II to him. but Mr. Bates was unable 10
reach IT, and as the son had only car left, he os
valuable time In trying to reach his father "Ih I'c
boat But at last he managed TO do IT, after deS-
perae struggle and caught the drowning man Dy inc
collar. He was, however, exhausted that he could
do no more than hold Mr.. Bates's head above water
He coud not haul him into the boat and he crouched
in the craft holding his father, who was unconscious
| by that tme until the ferryboat Weehawken came
| along Both were taken aboard, and Mr. Bates was
taken TO College Point quickly as possible DuI alOr
wording over him for long while the surgeons had 10
! nita 10 i'm N In.
The son is now at home, greatly shaken by the SAD
| occurrence Mr.. Rates leaves another son. william IT,
Bates swyer of No. 146 Broadway, and one daughter
! His wife died time ago.
| Levi NJ Bates was born in Richmond, vt. He got
his education In Jericho at the Bicknel Academy anu
after he lef there he got place as clerk IN dIy
goods store in Burlington. In 1850 he came to New
| York with s4s5 which he had saved in Burlington
From the time he arrived in New-York his advance
| ment began At first he worked In a drygoods mouse
I'm c-dar-st for "a week. but after two years ne be
care associated with Cyrus Clark, Harris Pardee ana
Frank Vincent In the silk and fancy ygoods trade at NO
20 warren-st number of changes took place III tie
firm until It was organized as L. NJ. Rates 81 Co. NeN'
Il became known as Bates Reed & Cooley, and under
this name exercised commanding influence IN u't
market Tor wears until 1t dissolved This occurred
| nm December 81, 1885, each partner retiring rich
Almost Immediately after the dissolution Mr.. Bate
bougbt out Conkling d. Chvvls, and resumed the dry
goods business at sixth-ave. and Twenty -thirds'
Here. however, his former success failed mh' ah'
| ,honch bo renor+ed 10 Bradstreet's7 that he wa
w5rb $50. 900 to 100000 n February, 1888, dis
onIetng nors about his solvency began TO De near, @
nc the summer OF that year approached. Ihei I
RrSdstreets" withdrew its rating and TO add TO nj
embarrassment ne lost $50 600 in one lump nrHnR
Mich, ADDED to all this trouble, came marte' l.
ull in trade and the result was that Mr; D 1S Ssa
IN favor of his wife, Daniel H. Mills. and H. b Cah
G. Co. lie has not been In business during m
For many years. though he never held ONCE , n
vyas prominently identified with Republican p1,I pou,es
n%a,sIcPnIarlv locally II was thought several tmc
nat the Republicans would nominate him for Mayo @
lie was a member Of the Union League Ne"-1o
| and Republican clubs.