The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-19
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
The Story of Long and Energeuc
Career.

Career.
The life of Captain Renton is an illustra-
ton of such remarkable triumph over the
disadvantages Of youthful poverty and OF
the opportunities held out TO energy and
industry in the West, that it has some
thing more of interest than mere oblt-
uary notice. Facts of the narrative are
taken from the Northwestern Real Estate
and Building Reriew for May, 1891, from
interviews with Captain Renton himself,
and from the recollections of friends.
Captain William Renton was born in
Pictou, Nova Scotia. on the I'd of No
yenber 1915 He comes of race of brave
and hardy mariners, his father having
been shipmaster; and at an early age he
took to the sea, following that profession
in the summer months, but fnoing other
occupation in the winter.
On the 18th of July. 1910, in command of
his own ship, the Mary and Jane accom-
panied by his wife, he sailed from New York
where at that time the cholera was rag
ing with terrible fatality. From New York
Captain Renton took mixed cargo to
Bangor, Me-, where he loaded up with
white pine and sailed for MADEIRA. He
then, after touching at several European
and South American ports, rounded Cape
Horn and called at Valparaiso. whence he
sailed for San Francisco, at which port he
landed on the 18th day of August 1850, q
little over year after he left New York.
In those days the gold fever was at its
height. Everybody was rushing off to the
mines, and as no sailors were TO be had
ships were a drug on the market and
could be bought for 81 900 or 81 800 apiece.
AT later date he disposed of the Mary
and Jane, and this vessel afterwards went
to Australia. At San Francisco Captain
Renton purchased an old ships hulk,
which he used for a store but after
time, hearing of the magnificent timber
which was TO be found further north, he
left that city and came TO Puget sound, in
September, 1852. or nearly thirty-nine
years ago. When Captain Renton finally
came to this region he had two men with
him, James Laidley and William Force.
These men professed to know all about
the lumber trade, but the captain
soon found that their knowledge
of the subject was very limited,
and knowing nothing about it
himself, he had TO learn the business by
practical experience. Being man of
great physical force and endurance, and
also endowed with unusual energy and
natural ability, Captain Renton was, how
ever. quite equal to the emergency. With
never-failing industry and perseverance he
fought his way through ali obstacles, and
in face of difficulties which would have de-
tered ninety-nine men out of hundred
he developed and perfected his business
until 1t became the great industry we have
attempted to describe, and until he him.
self was recognized as one of the leading
and most influential gentlemen of Puget
sound.
On his first arrival in these regions, and
after looking over the country, Captain
Renton, with his usual foresight and good
judgment, would have preferred to estab-
fish himself at Port Orchard, but Laidley
and Force were in favor of Alh point,
| and here they started mill. 1t was soon
evident TO the Captain, however, that this
was not very desirable location, and ac-
cordingly in March, 1854, he moved the
machinery over TO Port Orchard. Here the
enterprise grew and prospered. When il
first started the output was about 10000
feet per day, and about ten men. mostly
Indians, were employed. In those early
| days the principal market was San Fran
| cisco and other point in California,
and at that time, not possessing q
fleet of his own, Captain Renton was
obliged 10 charter a great many
vessels. During this time Captain Renton,
being determined TO make success of the
enterprise, worked upwards of eighteen
hours out of the twenty-four, attending to
| the engines at night and experimenting
| operations in the daytime. Although
| handicapped previously by his want of ex-
| perience, he had now become q thorough
| e ~ II.
| Port Orchard became very favorahly
| known on the Pacific coast, and the de-
mand for its products increased greatly.
| Meanwhile, the supply of timber
at Port Orchard was running very
| low, in consequence of the great
| inroads that were made on it, besides
which it was difficult for ships TO get in
| there. consequently, as trade increased. it
| became necessary to seek a still more IA
! vorable location. This was found in the
secluded and sheltered bay where the Port
| Blakeley mills are now situated Captain
Renton long had this spot in mind. and
would have preferred il TO Port Orchard
when he first moved from AIki Point. but
at that time he had no means of obtaining
| logs Finding now that he would have TO
extend his operations. in August, 1863, he
visited the bay in company with his then
| partner Captain Daniel s. Howard. and
together they took soundings and exam
ined the locality thoroughly and carefully.
| This examination quite satisfied them that
the spot was especially adapted for their
purposes, inasmuch as it was centrally sit
uated, and the largest ships could enter
without difficulty and lie at the
wharves in perfect safety. Captain
Renton then took up homestead at Port
Blakeley. taking in as much as possible OF
the water front SlnCe that time he has
acquired the greater part of the land in
the vicinity in order 10 keep outside par
ties from starting ginmills and other OBJ
| jectionable establishments, 10 the moral
detriment Of the community. Having
now obtained footing at Port Blakeley.
Captain Renton set to work and con
structed a large and finely appointed mill.
the predecessor OF the present huge estab-
lishment. and operations were then eefor-
ward conducted on a large and constantly
increasing scale, TIL the name al Por,
Blakeley became famous throughout the
world, and the company was a power in
the land.
| Three years ago last February the mill
caught fire from a hot box on the counter
shaft. near the head saw, and the flames
spread almost with the rapidity of an ex-
plosion Ii was only with great difficulty
that some OF the employees escaped from
the burning building with their lives. lit
was serious blow. but the captain. with
his usual energy, set himself 10 repair the
disaster. lie now determined TO build s
| .lse,kfa mill which SbaufI Ia