Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-15
CAPT. NOVEL;. DEAD.
Stricken With ApopIexy While stand
ing at the Wheel.

Capt. William ID. NOVEL; of the steamer
Harry Randall died last night. He was
stricken with apoplexy yesterday forenoon
while bringing the Randall up, and expired
in his cabin at balf-past midnight All the
flags at the river front are at haif-rnast.
and will remain SO till after the funeral
which Will take place at Alexandria on Sat
urday. AT IL O'Clock yesterday the Randall
made the landing at Stif's wharf on the
Virginia side. Capt. Novel; gave the usual
landing orders and went ashore for a mo-
ment. He shook hands and chattei with
the people at that place. and seemed in a
joyful mood. He pranked with Chief Engi-
neer Tom Tennyson Of his craft, and, after
having ordered lines of. he went into the
pilot house and stood by the wheel with
Pilot Richards. The rounding had just been
made preparatory to entering Potomac
creek, but as a craft was passing out, the
Randall lay to. 1t was at this Juncture that
the captain said TO his pilot, Il am getting
dizzy; stand by her, and don't let her go
ashore" He sank a couch and never
spoke again. The alarm was given and the
boat rushed through TO Alexandria. Every
ounce OF steam that could be carried was
put on, and all energies bent toward max
ing Alexandra in the shortest possible time
As she drew into the wharf one of the Off
GERS leaDed ashore. and within a few mo-
mentS Dr. Jones was at the side of the dying
man. A telephone message was sent to Dr.
Hammett to meet the boat at her home
dock, and once more she was subj ected to
all the steam pressure which her license
would allow DIR. Hammett was on board
before the boat had touched the dock and
he and DR.. Jones gave it, as their opinion
that the captain was beyond hope. The
rewS soon spread, and before long his wife,
two OF his sons and many of mis- river
friends were around him. At half-past II
he died. The doctors had left, and those
around him were Russell Dean, pilot of the
Ill
police. Chief Engineer Tennyson, Pilot
Richards and Chief Engineer Moore of the
Pentz The body was removed to Lees
undertaking rooms. 1t was not taken to
his home because there is scarlet fever in
the family. Deceased leaves a widow and
five children. Mrs. NOVEL; is Frustrated.
Capt. Novel; was a member of Rawlas
Post. Department of the Potomac, G. \. r.
and Of Washington Harbor No. 81. A. A
NJ. 2. s. V. He was widely and favor
ably known any other captain on the
Potomac. Besides being a skillful navi-
gator and able mariner. he was a past
grand master in good manners. and fun to
the brim Of stories. jokes and good fellow
ship. He was born in Alexandra forty
nine years ago. and began his career as a
W. ternan early in life aboard sailing craft
He was in the Planters line, and after the
dissolution of this company he went with
the Inland Seaboard Coasting Company.
and served on the Lady Of the Lake Jane
MOSely and John w. Thomson. He was
at the Boston dock, Norfolk. For a time he
was in the Georgetown and New York
Steamboat Company He was in the en-
plOy of the late 9. L. Sheriff for ten years
as master Of the MattanO. and was trans
ferred 10 the steamer Armenia during Mr.
Sheriff's management of Lower Cedar
Point. He has been in command Of the
Randall ever since she was put on the river
route by Capt. e. S. Randall. That steamer
left this morning IN charge of Pilot Rich
ards. and Will return tomorrow and lie over
till Sunday morning. Her officers and crew
wiil-ittend the funeralsn body. Rawlins
Post will also attend. Scores Of the steam
boat people will go down. Washington
HarbOr, No. 81. Masters and Pilots Asso-
citation, will meet tomorrow night aboard
the kanawha, and will take appropriate
action. The public meeting of the harbor
which will take place IN the saloon of the
Harry Randall tomorrow evening" and for
which many invitations were sent out, has
been postponed till April g.