The morning call., 1894-09-07
OLD "ZEB'S" DEATH
Last of Pilot jackson of
Bangkok.
HERO OF THE CIVIL WAR.
Served With Farragut and the
French in Chira.
CAPSIZED IN A SMALL BOAT.
After Hard Struggle He Went to
the Bottom in Sight of His
Comrades i'm Distress.
CAPSIZED IN A SMALL BOAT

Old "Zeb" Jackson. as he was familiarity
known to his comrades during the civil
war. the hero of many naval fights and the
oldest American pilot in Bangkok, lost his
life on the 21st of July off the coast near
the city mentioned by the capszing Of his
boat.
No man in the Orient was better known
than Pilot Jackson. Only one year ago,
or 8 few months over a year, all France
sounded praises of his bravery, for it was
ne who led the French squadron that
forced it's way into the river at Bangkok
and captured the outlying forts.
The steamship Peru that arrived yester-
day morning from China and Japan
brought the news Of Captain Jackson's
death. There were only i've cabin pas
sengers on the boat. but all knew the bold
pilot and regretted that he should have
come 10 such an untimely end.
Before relating the deeds of the deceased
mariner, the story Of his death had best be
told.
It was In the early morning Of July u
that the bark Zuheka, with Pilot Jackson
on board, put cut to sea. She passed sue
cessfully through the shallow channels OF
the river that washes the shores OF bang
kok, and was about to go over the bar
when she struck on shoal.
A stiff southwest gale had sprung up.
The sea outside the bar had commenced 90
look ugly, and there was fear of the bark
being dashed to pieces had the storm in
creased.
Captain Jackson's cutter was hove to
about four miles from where the stranded
vessel lay, SO Jackson. mate and two sea-
men decided to try to make her in small
boat.
It was fatal decision, for the gale blew
all the harder when they were mile from
the Zulieka. The boat was continually
filling with water.
In attempting to make tack she went
over. ALI hands were thrown into the
sea.
The mate and two sailors managed to re-
tain their hold on the bottom of the boat,
but jackson, who had weighed his pOck-
cts down with number OF silver dollars
and who wore heavy oilskin coat, sank
in few moments almost within reach of
his companions in distress. His body was
never recovered.
All night long, until 10 o'clock the fol-
lowing morning, the capsiZed boat and its
three surviving occupants drifted about
on tempestuOus ocean.
The mate managed to pass couple of
oars under the boat and lash them TO the
fabric with a painter. Tnis arrangement
enabled the men TO cling more securely to
the craft.
The crew of the lightship picked them
up and cared for them, returning them to
their vessel. which had been hOated by
this time.
Returning to the history of 'Zeb" jack
son {; he was GA years of age and native
of one of the New England States. He
came to Bangkok during the SOS. but when
the civil war broke out in the United States
he fastened home to offer his services to
his country.
He was a young. active man, and one
who had good deal of knowledge of the
bars and channels of the Mississippi River.
This knowledge brought him to the notice
of Admiral Farragut. who secured his serv-
ices as pilot to one of the Federal fleet at
the attack on New Orleans.
Soon after the fall OF New Orleans Jack
son distinguished himself by placing a
torpedo under a Confederate transport
barge loaded with ammunition and ra-
tiOns for the enemy's land forces. The
barge was destroyed, and for this service
he was promoted TO the position OF sub
officer at the Washington naval barracks.
jackson Is credited with numerous other
achievements requiring nerve and caution,
and won many laurels as a naval hero.
After the war he returned to Bangkok,
and has been there ever since acting as
bar and river pilot.
When the French warships pressed their
way INTO Lne river JACKSON leo the squad
ron in the little steamer j. B. Say. he
was exposed to the fire of the forts for two
hours, but he did not desert his post at the
wheel.
Shells and solid shot flew about his little
vessel, but he never flinched until the Say
was struck by a 0-pound shot near the
starboard stern quarter and commenced to
sink. He then ran her ashore. All hands
on the boat were taken prisoners.
When the French admiral landed he Sc
cured the release of jackson, and after
the trouble was all over the veteran re-
sumed his old business of plotting.