The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-30
HIS LIFE CUT SHORT.
Sad and Sudden Fate of ]. +.
Chilberg on the Colima.
WORKING ON GREAT ENTERPRISE
While Going TO Central America to De-
veiop seattle Trade. He Meets
Death at sea.

The news Of the terrible loss Of life by
the laundering OF the steamer Colima was
or mournful interest 10 many citizens OF
Seattle. because among the lost was J. +.
Chilberg, one of the best-known. most pop
ular and most energetic young business
men OF the city. who was just opening
what promised TO be a lucrative trade be-
tween the city and Central America The
sailing OF the barkentine Eureka for AGA
Julia with miscellaneous cargo was the
initial step in this direction.
The Eureka left this port May l. for
South America. in charge of Capt. Paul.
son, and the following day Mr. ChiIberg
departed on the UmatiIla for San Fran
cisco. from which por, he sailed on the
Colima May Is Before leaving he wrote
letter 10 Mrs. Chilberg i'm this city. in
which he told of his intended departure.
and stated that by reason of the vessel
stopping at several way ports il was ex-
pected that about twenty days would he
consumed in making the trip. The F.u-
reka was expected 10 reach Salvador eight
or ten days later
Mr.. Chilherg came to this city from his
native state, Iowa, when a child. He at
tended the old Central school here. and
afterwards entered the University OF
Michigan. paying his way by setting type
on the old Inteliigencer. He would have
but dropped out and entered the grocery
business with his father. Nelson Chilberg.
in this city. They were in the old Reinig
building, on Front street. for a time. but
afterwards rented portion of what is
now the Union block and formed corpo-
ration. taking in among others c. @. Per-
kins and y. III. Latimer. The business
flourished until the great fire. when il
went up in smoke. They had failed short
~ h,f m a.Aa ~ D he s,NSst
of the stock. and result lost that
much. The corporation went out of bust
ness. and Mr.. Chilberg, encouraged by the
financial assistance of friends, went into
the wholesale grocery business. He closed
that out a year and half later, but kept
up -four business. He organized at the
same time the Seattle Crockery Company.
which had quarters in the Noyes block, on
Front street. but later resigned as it's man
ager and devoted ali OF his time to looking
after his -four business. In the early part
OF 1893 he became bookkeeper at the city
water works office. and in March of the
same year resigned and went 10 Central
America to see what he couldsdo in bust
ness way.
He long had had an idea that Seattle
should enjoy some of the great trade OF
that country. and had endeavored 10 es-
tablish relations when he was in the -four
mala, and met many of the leading bust
ness men of Central America. who said
that. IL properly looked after. good bust
ness could be created between that coun-
try and Puget sound. and as evidence OF
their sincerity gave him orders for several
thousand barrels OF Washington -four as
against California -four. which at that
time controlled the Central America mar
ket.
Mr.. Chilberg interested several capital
lists In other American schemes-for In
stance. equipplng the mule street cars
with electricity and introducing the In
can6escent electric light In Central Amer
lean cities. and secured their promises 20
aid In the establishment of a -four mill
so that rhs heavy duty on -four could he
saved. On his return 10 Seattle he re-
ported the result OF his trip TO the c. &
G. Milling Company and the Washington
Water and Electric Power Company, both
of Spokane. who promised 20 take hold
OF the proposition. They went go far as
20 get figures and plans and make some
arrangements for entering into the work
The Guatemala government took favor
ably TO the propositions and gave Dir.
Chilberg valuable concessions. which
would have enabled him to carry his
plans into successful execution hal II not
been for the panic and financial crisis
which struck the city about that time.
In the middle of June, 1898. Mr.. Chill
berg, accompanied by his wife, returned
to Central America as the representative
OF the g. & c. Milling Company. He
received several thousand barrels OF -four
from the mill on each steamer. Mr.. Chill
berg was working up fine trade and
meeting with great success when news
came from the G.. e G. Milling Company
that Il would have 20 suspend operations
for some time so as 10 introduce improved
machinery in the mills and that no more
-four could be shipped. Mr.. Chiloerg
cabled 10 Seattle and had a large cargo
of POTATOES sent 10 Central America,
which he sold at $3.50 per 100 pounds,
they being regarded In that country as
d luxury.
Not satisfied to do business on small
scale, Mr. ChiIberg returned 10 Seattle,
determined If possible TO establish perma-
nent business relations between the
Sound and Central America by means OF
a line Of steamers or sailing vessels. His
hope on several occasions seemed about
10 be realized, for he went so far at one
time as to open negotiations for the pur-
chase OF a British tramp steamer which
could carry heavy cargoes and consume
little fuel The stringency In the money
market baked his plans. and he finally
arranged to have the barkentine Eureka
load with a mixed cargo for San Saliva
dor. The cargo consisted of lumber from