Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-06-03
CAPT. WIN. DILLON.
A Veteran stsambOatman and Prominent
Of.t-.- $1,000 49,

4 Veteran Stoamboatman and Prominent
Citizen Passed Away.
Once more it becomes our painful duty
to record the removal OF one OF Wheel
ing's old landmarks. Captain William
Dillon was born December, 1917, and
died May 80, 1894. consequently was 70
years and months old. he came to
Wheeling in 1928, and began his career
as river man in 1894. He has been the
owner Of several vessels, cotton boats
plying between New Orleans and Bayou
Teche, or the Red River country. OF
late years he ran daily packets between
Wheeling, Sistersville and Marietta.
In 1910 he joined the Fourth Street
n. E. church. He was known all along
the river as a man whose "word was his
bond" All his life was religious, many
times laying TO over Sunday and having
religious services on his boat The
winter of 1877, the Ohio river having
frozen over, his packet, the Phaeton,
which piled between Slstersvills and
Wheeling, was laying under the
suspension bridge. At midnight those
who had interests on the river were
awakened by the usual signal OF dis
tress, all the boats at the wharf blowing
their whistles, seeming TO implore aid.
The immense cakes OF ice came down
the river borne on the swift current,
seeming like things Of life, bearing de-
struction 10 their path. The Phaeton
was simply under piled up ice, the ice
sinking under her hull and putting her
high and dry on the shore. The Cap
tain's family were up under the bridge
watching anIiously. When all danger
was over he was Informed that the
women were there watching. "Shall l
bring them aboard?" asked the escort.
my dear" exclaimed the Captain with
surprise aud astonishment, come
aboard ALL" They greeted him atfec-
tIonately as they passed up the plank,
and after a little chat about the anxiety
of the situation and the happy ending,
the Captain said: Girls sing Praise
God from whom all blessings low.'" 1t
was sung by all aud then again repeated,
while tears OF joy coursed down the old
commanders cheeks.
Wednesday and Thursday the flags on
the steamboats, and Custom House were
at half mast, and all along the Ohio
river were heard expressions OF regret
at the loss OF one who had been identi
fed with the interests OF the river for
over half century. The Captain lately
held the position OF lorn Inspector OF
steam vessels und5f- uhe Government.
The disease was car beer OF the
stomach. He become vel ~ weak but
kept at his lost, maxi Big trips and
inspecting vessels, going to and from
his office in a cfrriage.
His funeral vas largely Iattended by
river men, his friends in the church,
and q number Of colored 4 people, who
had reason TO r.spect him very highly.
His was a genial, sunny deposition, al
ways entertaining with "reminiscences
of the war and his life I'M the South.
His loyalty to tle Governnh ent which he
loved was very marked. His word
was his boId and when the
Government tsed his boat and
refused to )ay all 1t owed
it was a great surprise, but he said a
few hours before his deaf b, II still have
faith in the hoiesty and integrity Of
the Government and die ebasier, for be-
lieve they yet will deal Instly with by
my wife and children" His wife, who
is feeble, survives him, and with her
surrounding hitbed were his daughters,
Miss AIDA, Mr.. Ella Di lon Martin, Of
Evanston, H., Mrs, J. Z. Farls, OF
Kansas City, Mo-, AMI his brother,
James Dillon, Of this tity. His son,
viii B. Dillon. resides n Castle Rock,
Washington and could OF get to his
bedside.
The funeral occurred Thursday at
p. m, from his late resi- denee, 1O2 Fiji
teenth street, services tkeing conducted
by Rev. DR.. Rlker of tlbe Fourth Street
NJ. E. Church, and Rev. Eugle Of Zane
Street NJ. z. Church. The congrega
tional was led by a quartette, Miss
Duncan, Miss Land, Mr.. Devore and
Mr.. Billiard. By specI ial request they
sang LEAD Kindly light" the other
hymns being FNearer My God to Thee
and How Finn a Fon undation. The
pail bearers were Capt. Reuben Thomas
Capt. Ben Goodwin, Aessrs. Jos. Sey'
bold, William Gf1%t4laFs n. W. Beck and
John Baiie. The intd rmenE was at the
Peninsula ceme tery.