The morning call., 1891-12-27
OBITU AIRY .
CAPTAIN ELIHU AVERY.

Captain Elihu Avery, we'll known to the
maritime communities of many countries
bordering on the Pacific, died at his home
in Berkeley Christmas night after pro-
tracted illness. The Evening Bulletin says:
HE was typical mariner, the most Of his
life having been passed upon the sea. 1t is
said by those who were associated with him
on various occasions during trying times,
amid danger and disaster. that lie seemed
totally devoid oil fear SO far as his own per-
son was concerned, while manifestiDg the
most Lively solicitude for the safety of those
around him. Captain Avery was born in
Groton, Conn, at the mouth OF the Thames
river, about sixty-five years ago. Fortunes
were being made on the sea by hardy whale
men, whose ships were continually passing
and repassing the spot where his boyhood
was passed. 1t was the day of clipper ships
and OF sailing craft generally. The large
commerce between New York and B0s,
ton by water nayigated Long Island Sound
almost within hail of the Connecticut
shore. Every boy sailed boats. and
a large share of the adult male COM
munity were captains, or asplred to be.
Every family had its sailor boy at sea. The
subject of this sketch was gifted with an
imaginative mind and an intrepid temper.
He was very early an able seaman and nav
igator. As early as 1643 he visited the coast
OF California in a whaling ship, the William
Z. Nye. Henceforth for a period of over
forty years, with brief interval out, he
sailed with little interruption on the Pacific.
He returned East on the William c. Nye at
the end of her cruise on this side, AMI in
1S49 he came around tie Horn as mate OF
the schooner Alfred. For long period he
was engaged in the Sacramento river trade.
lie then was engaged in the coastwise and
foreign trade, making repeated voyages to
Mexico, Central and South American ports,
TAHITI, and Australia, and few men were
as familiar IS he was with the navigation Of
the Pacific. He owned several ships at
yArlonS times hut la accumulated lit
tie property. To the last his disposition
was trusting and child-like. He was, con-
sequently, the victim of INSCRIPTIONS men
with whom he had dealings. 1t was char
acterisiic OF him that while such an expert
ence made him wary of doing business with
many men the second time, he never
lost confidence in the general Integrity of
others.
He WAS married many Years ago to lady
who was native of Groton, and she sailed
with him many voyages to different parts of
the world. The only child by this marriage
was son. Edgar o. Avery. who became
shipmaster. He died suddenly at Port
Townsend in July, 1890, where he had gone
FROM this city to take command of his ship.
The death of this son, to whom Captain
Avery was devotedly attached, inflicted a
blow from which there was no recovery.
Captain Avery was also stricken with par
tia blindness, and his health, which had
been poor for some time, completely failed,
so that for months he has seldom left his
home. During this period every child
within hail." as he expressed it. has found
him their especial friend, his natural kind
illness and gentleneSs surviving repeated
disaster i'll marked and remarkable de-
gree. He was attended by his wife through
out his illness. He was we'll known in Monte
rey County. where he formerly owned large
ranch. Three brothers and four sisters sur
yive him. The brothers are Dean T. Avery,
a merchant of this city JudSon Avery of
Oakland and William c. Avery, formerly of
Santa Clara County. but now manufac-
turer at Stafford Springs, Conn. His four
sisters reside in Connecticut. The remains
will be taken East for interment in his ma
tive tuwn