Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-04-20
DIED AT HIS POST.
Pilot Andrew Coleman Falls
Dead While at the Wheel.
OvERTAKEN WHILE Oh DUTY.

0VERTAKEN WHILE on DUTY.
S1ddea and Sad Ending OF the Life of One
Of the Veterans u Upper Aississippl
steamboating The Pilot Hs1se Of the
Artemus Lamb HIS Death Chamber.
Andrew Coleman, affectionately
and popularity known as ANDY" to
all familiar with steamboat affairs,
died suddenly while plotting the Ar
temus Lamb over the rapids at 1880
this morning. The boat up bound
had just entered Moline chain, Pilot
Coleman being at the wheel, when
Capt. Charles P. Skemp. the boats
master, and Pilot Stephen l. Dolson.
who were in the pilot house, OBJ
served Coleman suddenly sink to the
floor. They FASTENED to his side,
thinking he had tainted, but the vet
eran pilot gasped twice and was no
more. The dead man was placed on
a bench. Pilot Sherman Brown was
summoned from below. and the boat
put in for the shore. made fast her tow
Of four barges, and turned about and
returned to this city. On arrival the
remains were taken tenderly to the
pilot quarters, the neat cabin occu-
pied by Pilots Coleman, Washington
Hight and Fuller Smith, and the cor
oner was notified.
The Last Voyage.
The Artemus Lamb, which is the
property of Joy Bros, of St. Louis,
had been at LeClaire all night, 60
ing out last night with Coleman at
the wheel with four barges for Le-
Claire. and had returned this morn
ing early for four more. She put
out on her second trip at GAS.
These were the facts elected by
the inquest before the jury, COM
posed of o. f. Cramer, foreman,
Frank Moore, w. L. Sweeney, George
Lamont. William Bentley and Charles
johnson. and under the direction OF
Deputy Coroner Eckhart. the verdict
being that death was due to heart
disease. No one of Coleman's ASSOC
ciates ever heard him complain, or
knew that he was at all indisposed,
but his wife stated that he had SUI
fered for two years with heart trouble.
sketch Of His Life.
Mr.. Coleman was born in Ohio,
August IL, 1928, being a son of John
Coleman, one of the pioneer steam
bcatmen of this vicinity, who died in
1868. The family came west in
1887, aud,ever since that date the de-
ceased has been identified with in
land navigation. first on Rock river,
but more largely on the upper Mis-
sissippi. For years he was a packet
pilot between st. Louis and St. Paul
on the old Northern Line and St.
Louis & st. Paul Packet company's
boats. He had been Interested in
various steamboat enterprises in his
time. For Is years he had been the
upper rapids pilot of the Saints and
Diamond 10 lines, and a few years
ago he and Wash Hight and Fuller
Smith formed q Pilots association
and practically controlled the rapids
business, over which only the most
expert and experienced pilots are
capable of safely conducting boats.
They had q neat little cabin near the
foot of Eighteenth street, and there
some of them were on duty day and
night. He had resided between Dav-
export and Rockingham for years,
but two years ago he purchased q
pretty little home at the corner of
Seventeenth street and Seventh ave.
nue. and removed to this city. He
was one of the best known steam
boatmen on the upper Mississippi,
familiar with every turn of the
river from St. Louis north, and was
respected and loved on every craft
and in every port. Happy and light
hearted he ever had a cheering and
kind word for all whom he met.
He leaves with his wife eight chill
dren: John at Sanborn. Iowa. Samuel
at Gilberttewn. George and William
in Davenport, James and Vandel in
Rock Island, Mrs. Ida Blackman in
Davenport, and Miss Ella Coleman at
home; also his brothers James and j.
II. S. Coleman, like the deceased,
prominent river men, and E. Is. Cole
man who is in Nebraska.
The remains were taken in charge
Oy Manager Ed. Swami OF Knox's
undertaking rooms, and will be pre-
pared for burial, after which they
will be taken to tho home of the de-
ceased. The funeral arrangements
are not yet known.