The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-05
4 VETERAN MARINER
Capt. Steeves Expires After !
Stormy, Changefal Life.
WAS 4 CAPTAIN At ElcHrEEn.


Captain John a. Sleeves died at his
residence. z.zo1 Sixth street. yesterday
morning Of pneumonia. after an Illness
OF three weeks. He WAS one Of the most
widely known and respected OF the
early settlers Of SQuak valley and also
was well known in this city. where be
has resided for ever four years.
Captain Sleeves was born In New
York city July n. 1S39 He WAS the
youngest son OF . fauiSiy Of twelve.
there being fifteen years between him
and lbs next older brother. When he
was . child his father died and sub
sequentiy his mother married again.
At the age OF thirteen years young
SfeeFez went TO sea with his uncle
Archie and from that time until ne was
shipwrecked at Cape Horn he was .
mariner. Ju9t ave years after Steeves
himself capksin and master OF the sail-
ing vessel Flower of Maine. In this
venture he put all his savings. and. al
though he was not . tatkattye man.
he remarked On one occasion that he
made forty-four voyages across the At
lantic ocean.
His last trip was around Cape Horn
The vessea was struck by a storm and
wrecked. Fortunately. however. assist
aI1ce was received from another vessel
and not a soul was lost. Captain Sleeves
was the last man to leave the doomed
ship and II was with great difficulty
that his life was saved. When he was
landed at Caracas. the capital OF ven-
exuela, he had hardly money enough to
purchase a meal. He was self-reiiant.
courageous man. however. and made
the best OF the most trying earcum-
stances. He struck ont on foot and
n1ade his way along tie coast Of South
america north until he reached point
where he struck q ship that took him
to New York city. Once there. he look
ed about for something to do. Tns mis-
fortune he had met with at sea after
Years OF striving caused him 70 try his
luck on land. He struck out across the
continent and was one OF the first men
to be in at the mining excitement at
Butte and silver Bow. At the latter
place he was foreman OF the largest
works for a long time.
Twenty-Five years ago the coming
spring he arrived in this city. then no.
thing but q town. and after looking
around the country settled on a pre-
emption claim In SQuak valley. His
ranch is where Derby station on the
Lake shore Is now located There was
something about the captain that made
him beloved and respected In every
neighborhood where he lived. This was
especially true of his life in Squak val
ley. He held about every position In the
gift of the people and II was said that
he never had an enemy In all that re-
gion. He was postmaster at York. con-
stable. justice OF the peace and school
director. Five years ago he sold his
preemption claim and came to this city
to live. He had arnassed enough prop
erty to keep him comfortably and. be-
ing firm believer In the future great
ness Of Seattle, he invested In property
on Sixth street ana also on Madison
street
After coming to Seattle he met Miss
Lille E. Blackburn. q woman OF culture
and refinement. Their acquaintance end
ed IN marriage at Tacoma January IL,
1898. Since then they lived happily at
s.3o1 Sixth street. The captain fairly
idolfzed his wife, and during his last
illness was never easy unless she was
at his bedside. Thursday night he slept
well and breathed much more easily.
Yesterday morning. however. he had q
spasm and after coming out of 1t broke
out in sweat. Perfectly calm. he re-
marked to his wife that he thought his
ensi was near. He spoke the truth for
In short time ne began to sink rapid
fx> a
The funeral services viii probably be
held at the family residence tomorrow
afternoon provided Miss NJ G. Black
burn. a sister OF MIS- Sleeves. arrives
from Vancouver. Il. G. Rev. Clark Da-
Wis will probably ofIiciate.
Captain Sleeves left no other heirs
than his wife.