The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-19
TOM WRIGHT
The ,Joyial Old Pioneer Yields
to the Enemy.
A GRAVE, WARM-HEARTEO MAN.
Son of a Steamboating Family, He
Fought in the Mexican War and
Ran Pioneer Boats on sound.

every body knew a. Captain Tom, pass
ed away yesterday morning at Providence
hospital at the age Of . years. after an
illness of only a few days. His son. Harry
Wright. from Victoria. was in the city
the preceding day and went home on some
business. expecting TO return al once. but
had not arrived yesterday, and his daugh-
ter. Mrs. Marie Perry. Of the same city,
Who has been attending him, was at his
deathhed.
Capt. Wright came TO the Sound in 1852.
and from that time has been one OF the
most familiar ana unique characters assoc
dated with the early history Of the coun-
try. His father was a ~well-known sea
captain. and was known as "Old capt.
Bully Wright He brought q number Of
steamers around Cane Horn, and was
owner Of the old steamer Northerner. His
son, George :. Wright. now a retired cap
italist in New York. was purser. another
son. John T. Wright, was chief engineer.
and Thomas Wright was his assistant.
= Lesson in Discipline.
The father was a stickler for discipline,
and for a time when Mrs, Wright liNed
aboard the vessel the boys, in the stern
ness Of the discipline, were treated like
the remainder Of the crew and NOT allowed
10 speak To her. because of her being the
captains wife. one Sunday, however,
Tom wanted to see his mother. and wash
ed ana cleaned up Tor the purpose, and
proceeded at once 10 her apartments. the
father came in suddenly and said. Who
in HI are you, sir?"
I'm your son. sir was the astonished
reply. Il am first assistant engineer
VIII are YOU talking to. sir?' persisted
the enraged captain.
I'm talking 10 my mother, sir" was
the answer.
Mother be d-d.' shouted the captain.
You are talking TO the captains wife.
Get out Of here, sir! You are not allowed
to talk to the captains wife" And with
language much more forcihle than polite
expelled the young man from his presence.
Owner OF Pioneer III
Capt. Thomas Wright. in company with
his brother, George 5. Wright, Capt. D..
3. Finch, Of San Francisco, and Capt.
Flemming, engaged for a number OF years
in the steamboat business. and prior 10 lHi
practically controlled the business on the
Sound. They owned the Eliza Anderson.
Wilson c.. Hunt. Isabelle and in 1871 built
the Olympia. The last named was placed
on the Olym~pia-EiCtoria route and the oo-
position 10 the old North Pacific. which
was then the fieetest steamer on the
Sound. became so intense that they were
matched for a race upon the condition
that the losing boat was to be laid up.
The olympia having lost the race, she
was accordingly tied up at the wharf OF
the city Of her name fer 4 period OF ten
years. She was then sold to capt. John
Irving. of Victoria, and her nam@l
changed to the Princess Louise. Al one
time in about 1870 Charles Prosch referred
10 the mail contract having been let 10
capt. Nash and f. \. and :. NJ. Starr ny
stating in the Olympia Tribune that's the
Stars are in the ascendency.'
Wright owned the steamer D1ana,
which took a party % Alaska, at a char
Ter price of $50 a day.
An Historic Occasion.
In 1859. when Henry Willard anne around
from Portland on the steamer Queen of
the Pacific to celebrate the completion or
the Northern Pacific railroad. he was met
at West point by a fleet containing every
steamer on the Sound. headed by the Eliza
Anderson. with Capt. Tom Wright as com
modore of the fleet. Col. j. G. Halnes
pleasure launch was used for newspaper
men. and among those who went were =.
q. Lyon. Of this city. and John (. b Heb
herd. now a superior Judge at San fran
cisco. Samuel L. Crawford was heard TO
say that he did not want TO 70 with the
launch. and capt. Wright said IN ms
usual way: "D-n you. sir; you shall come
with me. sir. and be my private secre-
tarv." Mr.. Crawford accepted the we'll
meant invitation. and one of the historical
DAYS ~ the state was celebrated. The
first order that Commodore Wright pro-
mulEatcd was that no one should dflhk
twice from the same glass. and as chaW-
payne was the only beverage. after each
round the glasses were thrown into the
sea and new ones brought into use.
Veteran of the Mexican War.
Cant. Wright was a typical pioneer Of
the old school. and with his dry humor
never tired Of telling stories OF hS Ire.
He once had a quarrel with his fat0er ana
they separated, the son enGstlng lot tle
Mexican war. lie vas reported TO nave
MAaH 49, NA- ataEG- N