The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-30
NOTED PERSONS DEAD.
Sudden End of Capt. Saunders,
of Whaleback WetmOre.
AN EMINENT THEoLoeIAN GONE.
Two Prominent Citizens OF Chicago
Judge Lemuel Scott, of Portland-A
Pacific County Lumberman.

LIVERPOOL July 29-It was the intention OF
the eonsignees OF the new American steamer
Charles Wetmore, which is the first of new
type of steamers, called the +swhaleback, 70
cross the Atlantic, she having recently arrived
at this port with grain from Duluth, Mimi, to
dispatch that vessel today for New York, but
their plans were disarranged by the sudden
death of the commander of the vessel, Captain
Saunders. 1t was noticed that the captain did
not leave his room usual this morning, ana
upon investigation il was found that he had
died In his berth some time during the night
Consequently the steamer will be detained until
new captain is selected. 1t is supposed that
he died Of heart disease, the attack following
the excitement attending the saving of q sailors
Lie yesterday.
TACOMA, July 2e.-lspeciaL 1.-The sudden
death of w. C. Saunders, commander OF the
steel whaleback vessel Charles Wetmore, at
Liverpool last night, is the topic Of conversation
among seafaring men of this city, where the
captains family reside. Captain Saunders had
decided to make Tacoma his home couple of
years ago, and to tina; end engaged in the cold
storage and fish business in this city, but hav-
ing been on the sea since he was IA years OF age,
he did not get on well in business on land.
Some time ago, the captain of the ship Earl OF
Granville retired from the sea at this port, and
Captain Saunders was induced to assume CON-
mand of the ship, he intending to re-
turn directly to this city from Liver
pool, and retire permanently from the
sea. The Granville proved unseaworthy
during this trip. and Ii was the belief OF the
owners that Captain Saunders was materially
instrumental in keeping her adoat, and getting
her into Liverpool by constructing windmill
on deck which relieved the exhausted sailors in
pumping out the water that came in through
the many leaks. Captain Saunders was pre-
scented with purse by the ships owners for his
services In saving the vessel.
While Ell route for Tacoma he was induced by
fiattering offers to assume command OF the
whaleback, Wetmore, that being the first vessel
to carry grain direct from the great lakes to En-
gland. He was TO bring the Wetmore to Puget
sound via Cape Horn, and she was to have been
put in the coast freight business.
Captain Saunders wife and two daughters,
well-known society young ladies, reside at $40
South Ninth street They say that Captain
Saunders always held to the belief that he would
die in saving drowning person, and the infor-
nation concerning his death which they have
received shows that the premonition was partly
fulfilled. He has never been troubled
with heart disease, so far as
his family il aware. He has been known to
awaken in the night with the feeling that he
heard the gurgle of person drowning, and has
gone to the spot where person was drowning.
He had saved many lives in that way. He was
81 years old. and of the twenty-five vessels COM
manded by him he lost but ons-the brig Mari
ana, on the shoals of Nova Scotland in that
case he was exonerated from all blame He
leaves two sons, one a ship carpenter and the
other a student at the Massachusetts, Institute of
Technology, at Boston. Mrs. Saunders has not
decided whether she will proceed to Liverpool
or have the remains forwarded here.