The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-20
THE DEAD PIONEER.
Funeral of Captain Renton on
Wednesday.
TO BE BURIED AT LAKE VIEW.
Relatives Summoned Home From Cali
fornfa-Reminiscence of the Well
known Old Couple.

The funeral OF Captain Renton viii take place
on Wednesday next Yesterday Mrs. Carney
aud Mr.. Maurice McMicken went TO Port
BIakeley and consulted with the relatives there.
II was decided 70 await answers 10 dispatches
cent to Mr.. Holmes, the San Francisco partner OF
the Port Blakeiey Mil Company, and TO MS.
sackman, asking If il would be possible Tor
them 10 arrive in time. The intention was 70
have the funeral on Tuesday If they could not
come, but to defer il until Wednesday In ORDER 70
afford time for them to reach here. dispatcn
was received from Mrs. Sackman, one OF MS step
daughters, expressing her desire 70 attend
telegram was received from Mr.. C. :. Holmes
stating that he would not come unless his pres
ence is considered advisable. MT. Holmes Ii
himself advancing In years. 1t was last night
resolved 70 have the funeral held on Wedues-
day The boat containing the body viii arrive
in Seattle soon after IL O'Clock. and the remains
will be laid at rest in the beautiful family plot
at Lake View cemetery, where Mrs. Renton and
two of the deceased's grandchildren are buried.
Captain Renton intended to erect fine monu-
nent to the memory OF his vile at an expense of
several thousand dollars. The plans are all
completed and the preliminary work begun.
Yesterday at Port Blakeley the sole topic OF
conversation was the loss all had sustained
Captain Renton's habits were such that he was
on speaking terms with every man and boy in
the place. At the unpretentious cottage occu-
pied by Mrs. William Campbell, his sister, where
the body lies, the only indication of mourning
is a small piece of funeral drapery. In the
harbor all the shipping had flags at half mast.
The tug Politkofsky, popularity known as the
"Polly," the Sarah NJ. Renton and the Michigan
bore the emblem of mourning, and the nine
ships awaiting cargo were similarly dressed"
Among the vessels is the four masted schooner
Prosper. built at Port Blakeley, which is taking
on her first freight.
A private dispatch received here yesterday
afternoon announces that a party of the rea-
tives of the deceased will leave San Francisco
for Seattle today. The party consists of Mrs.
Elizabeth W. Sackman, Captain Joseph W. Phil
lips, her son, his wife and son, and Mrs. Frank
w. Clayton, daughter of Mrs Gaifney, aud step
granddaughter OF Mr. Renton. Other members
OF the family are w. H. Phillips, son of Mrs.
eackman, Mrs. Harry struve, daughter OF Mrs.
Gaffney; Mrs. William Campbell, a sister of Cap
tain Renton; John A. Campbell Win Campbell
and James Campbell, the three latter being
nephews of deceased, and all engaged at tie
mill
The men around the mill were full OF remi-
niscences of their late employer, and by them
and by friends many anecdotes were told to sup
plement the more generally known incidents of
his life.
Some years ago there was a strike at the Port
Blakeley mill, not because of any grievance OF
the men there, but to help the employees of other
mills. Captain Renton sent boat over to Sc
attic, brought in a lot of new men aud lost not
an hour in setting the mill going. The ring
leaders OF the strike were sent away and never
taken back again.
OF late years Captain Renton took it greatly
TO heart that his good wife would continue to
work as she did years ago before fortune smiled
20 abundantly. She had her cows and chickens,
and almost to the day of her death, she gave
them her personal attention, feeding the chick
ems and gathering the eggs. milking the cows,
churning the butter, and going out TO perform
these duties In all kinds OF weather.
One day the captain said to Bob Sanders, who
lives across the inlet below the Renton place.
''Bob, 60 up TO the house and buy the chickens
and cows from my wife. Get them as cheap as
you can, but buy them, and will foot the BILL"
Sanders went up and interviewed Mrs
Renton.
pretty fine cows you have, Mrs. Renton,"
said Sanders.
"Yes." said the lady. 81 wouldn't take SIPS
apiece for them"
"welI, now" persisted Sanders, off anybody
was to offer you SIPS each for them, would you
take it?'
who'd DO fool enough to do 1t, I'd like to
know
81 viii, said Sanders.
"Make 1t $50 and III do it." said Mrs. Rem
ton.
Sanders acquiesced and the cows were his.
This was only part of what Captain Renton
desired. He next employed a Chinaman to steal
was accomplished, aud Captain Renton 10 the
day OF his death blamed himself for not taking
these temptations to work away from her long
before.
Captain Renton was president of the Staver d
Walker Company and his death is the second in
the firm to occur within year, Walker having
been accidentally shot while out hunting in
Oregon about year ago.
ON January IL. lss2. George z. Reynolds was
shot by two robbers on Marion street, near
Third, and died two hours later. A general
alarm was rung, and a vigilance organization
composed of 200 men met, secured the city and
snally caught the rufians, who were taken to
The old Jail on South Third street, L. V. Wykcoff
The sheriff, and John II. McGraw, the chief of
police, giving their word that they would be
taken before the magistrate in the morning
Their names were James sullivan and William
Howard. Tho accused had justice trial, and
when il became certain that the right men had
been secured, they were seized, taken from the
hail and hung from maple trees on the north
tide OF James street, in front of Yosler's old
house. Crime had been open and frequent up
10 that time aud the citizens action In the mat
Ter was approved. Captain William Renton
ieleeraphed from Port Blakeley while the hear
ng was IN progress:
II the men arrested for the murder of George
Reynolds are proven guilty, and the citizens of
seattIe i'eed any help 10 hang them, will shut
down the mill aud furnish the men needed
ms incident has frequently been mentioned
IN PRINT, out the real reason for the sending of
Is not generally known. George Reynolds,
ne murdered man, wasthe son of Captain Rey-
holds, a trusted skipper, and for over twenty
Fears an employe OF Captain Renton who re-
saTded him highly, aud who had quite an
Affection Tor George. The murder of the latter
aroused the hery spirit OF Captain Renton, and
he intended to see that justice was done TO the
murderer of his iavorite captains son