The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-13
GUYC. PHINNEY DEAD.
Sudden End to the Life of a
Leading Citizen.
he HAD GROWN R,cHiN SEATTLE.
Taken on In His Prime-His Life OF En-
terpriss and Energy-His Fer.
senai characteristics.

Guy c. Phinney. the well-known capi-
taiist. died n his summer house at WOOD
land park last evening. after having Deem
seriously i'll bat single day. He had been
poorly for several weeks, but visited VIC
toria two weeks ago, and on his return was
about his business until Thursday of last
week, which was the last day he came
down town. After that time he remained
at home under the care of his physician.
He passed an uncomfortable night be-
tween Monday and Tuesday. and early
yesterday morning Mrs Phinney called
DR.. r. III. Coe. The physician found him
in a very serious condition, inclined TO be
delirious. with the action of the heart ex-
ceedingly weak. DR.. Coe remained with
him until III o'clock.
About noon Mr.. Phinney had q serious
attack. Mrs. Phinney was with him at
the time, and his brother-in-law c. ].
Brenton, of Victoria, was Immediately
called from another part of the house.
They did all they could TO revive him, but
he gradually relapsed into unconscious
ness from which he never revived. DR.
Coe was Immediately called again and
found his patient in a state of coma. The
physician thought he was dying. but he
or moments consciousness until 7:40 in
the evening. when the last change came.
For short time before death he looked
better, but it was only the forerunner of
the end. Just before lapsing into I'M
consciousness he said to his wife who was
supporting him:
.'If any one ever goes to heaven you
will, for you have been so good to me
always, while / have done SO little for
you"
These were his last words.
For several days Charles ]. Brenton,
formerly of Seattle. but now of Victoria,
has been with Mr.. Phinney, and during
yesterday Mrs. Pninney's mother. Mrs.
NJ. ]. Wright. and her sister. Mrs. L. H.
Griffith, were called to the house. also
L. II. Griffith. DIR. Sharples was called in
consultation with DIR. Coe. and most of
these were with Mr.. Phinney ut the time
of his death. The cause of death was
uremic poisoning
Guy Carleton Phinnev was born May 20,
1852. in the village of Wilmot. Annapolis
county, Nova. Scotia. where his father still
lives. His early studies were under Rev.
DIR. Robertson, Of the Church of England,
who prepared him for course at Phillips
Exeter academy. He passed through a
three years course at the academy IN two
years, showing remarkable intellect and
retentive memory. He was especially
fond of classical and mathematical studies.
and on the day OF his death quoted freely
from Ovid and Virgil in conversation
with his physician. Leaving the academy
he passed the entrance examination to
Harvard college in 1873, but his father
persuaded him TO attend Canadian col
lege, and in difference to these wishes he
entered Bishops college. at Lennoxville,
Quebec. He remained there two years.
during which time he won the Nichols
mathematical scholarship. Wishing to
study law. he then went TO McGili college,
Montreal, entering in the second year.
After reading law year be was attracted
by the gold excitement In British Column
bia and went to Caribou, where he engaged
in mining for several years. At one
time he was the possessor OF large
amount of mining property. but collapse
came and he left there poor. in the tall OF
1850, and went to San Francisco, where he
spent only few months. In February,
1881, Mr.. Phinney took passage for Puget
sound on the ship Olympus. being so poor
that be was glad of an opportunity to
work his passage The ship took fire 600
miles off the Columbia river. and the
twenty-six persons on board took TO the
boats without food or water, being picked
up the same day by the War Hawk and
landed at Point Discovery, from which
place Mr.. Phinney came to Seattle.
On his arrival in Seattle, which was then
village of 1900 inhabitants, Mr.. Phin-
ney. after working as a clerk for short
time. went into partnership with man
named Nelson in the real estate. insurance
and collection business. He had such
faith in the future OF. the city that he in
vested all the profits beyond his living
expenses In real estate. and as
the city grew and his prop
erty increased in value he began
to improve il and became the owner of
some of the valuable buildings in this
city. On the northeast corner OF Front
and Seneca streets he had wooden build
ing which was destroyed in the great ire
OF 1859. and the following morning he was
az work with gang of men, pouring water
on the smoking ruins and preparing TO
erect a brick block. This build
ing. which he gave his own name.
was the first brick block begun and
the first finished after the lire. He about
the same time began the erection OF the
Butler block, at Second aud James streets,
which is one of the finest in the city. and
cost ABOUT $50, 600, and the Carlton block,
on Front street, between Columbia and
Marion. He might have been seen up to
his knees in mud working 10 keep water
from broken main out OF the foundations
of the Butler block during its eonstruc-
ton.
The investment in which Mr.. fhinney
has taken the most interest OF late years
Is Woodland park. on the west shore OF
Green lake, fine tract OF 30 acres sloping
down TO the lake at one side. bat mostly
level land and thus admirably adapted for