The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-31
CAPT. ALEX. s41PsOs DEAD.
Pioneer Of Puget sound and Richest
Man in Chatham CotEnty.

PoRr ANGELES Jan. 30 ESPECIAL. Sun
day morning az 3:45 o'clock Capt. Alex
ander Sampson, the veterars lighthouse
keeper Of Puget sound and tire richest in
diydual in Claiiam county, died az the
home OF mis- warm friend. Joh. +. Church,
in this city. of heart failure. capt. SGmp-
son was IS years Of age. He gas q man Of
powerful constitution. but exposure and
strong liquors Irabibed too freely. espe-
c.ally during the past week, undoubtedly
hastenet MS death. HoweVsr, 1t came
most unexpectedly, shocking and sur
prising his friends and acsuaintances.
Capt. Sampson came 10 this place in the
year 1886, settling upon trace Of land at
the head OF the bayt He integded TO take
il as a homestead. OF course Gsle land was
unsurveyed. Later the government, a.
the instance OF Collector ef Customs
Victor Smith. laid out the government
townsite, buying all xne rights
of settlers except that Of NJ Sampson,
who refused TO sell. However, the town
site was laid out. Capt. Safs pson lived
the number OF years required 20 nave title
upon his land, when he acceped the posi-
ton of keeper of the light at Ta;oosh
island, which position he has geld contin-
uously for the past twenty-ser1n years.
The government later disguised the title
of Mr.. Sampson 10 the land ne had settled
upon al the head Of the bay. bu. during
the past three year, bill passed through
congress giving him forty acres, the part
he had most substantially impEoved. This
land for more than quarter Of a mile
fronts the bay at the mos. important
point, giving its owner the p5ior right of
purchase OF the tide lands, snaking be-
tween sixty and seventy acres Of the tract.
1t is easily at the presen: der@essed times
worth $500 per acre.
Capt. Sampson lett will u,Sier remark
able circumstances. Last tuesday he
came 10 Port Angeles from Ea:oosh and
calling upon his friend, JOHN f. Church,
said that he desired TO have eis Will writ
ten and wanted Col. ID. o. Each. of the
Ian firm of Finch, Shook 8 Finch, OF
Seattle, teiegraphed 10 come &1ld draw up
the instrument. Col. Finch is an old-time
friend OF both Mr.. Church and Capt.
Sampson. having spent week last fall
visiting him az TatoOsh. Nh Finch was
delayed IN getting here, szlt arrived
Thursday. The will was co.#p,eted Sat-
urday al noon and delivered - Col. Finch
to deposit in a safe deposit va.lt at Seat
tie. Then the two friends pe<ted. Capt.
Sampson was apparently ie.Iing better
than the day before, which Was remarked
by Mr.. Finch. to " hich the ve}serable light
housekeeper said: ''Ies. fee. better than
have for many DAYS; am good for ten
years vet come and see me next summer
and brlng your wife" O~ing 10 the
storm the Monticello did not @eave on her
usual run Tor Seattle last ngh1. Col. Finch
being thereby detained until tSs morning,
when early he was awakened: TO be told
the startling news OF the d@ath of his
friend and client.
The deceased had no family: or friends
except a brother ana sister IN Massachu-
sets and 4 nephew in Illinois, All OF whom
il is understood are most literally remem-
bered in the Will. bat it is fur1ner under
stood that the largest and MOTT principal
beneficiary is Mrs. John F. C,lurch, and
that 10 her will fail the buk q the very
large estate This IS given as = reward for
her many kindGesses - the de*eased, hav-
ing nursed him through a seveee sickness
al one time, having taken care Of his prop
erty here for nearly twenty years, and IN
many ways winning the gratitude and al
fiction OF the deceased.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Church are most