Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-04-15
CAPT.WlYERS DEAD
First Of Newporl's Mayors
10 Die in Office.
PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT.
Sketch Of His Long and Eventful
Career on Sea and Land.

Capt. John Waters, Mayor of the city
OF Newport, expired at his home last
evening at $3.50 o'clock after an illness of
over month of pneumonia and a COM
plication OF diseases. Mayor Waters
was born In Boston, Mass, In 1885, and
when he was yet young lad his parents
removed to Maine, but later returned to
Massachusetts. The time he spent in
going to school was short, and he began
the life OF a sailor and fisherman as a
great many ofthe boys OF that day did.
Some time afterward he engaged in the
wrecking business, and earned national
reputation In that line. At one time he
was superintendent of the Coast Wreck
ing Co., and for many years he was In
partnership with Capt. Mitchell, who
was his wife's brother. About twenty.
five years ago he located I'm Newport and
at once took an interest In politics, and
as he was lifelong Democrat, 1t was
with that party he became affiliated. In
1879 he was elected to represent the
Fourth Ward In the Common Council,
and served continually until 1885.
In 1889 he was returned, aud duringshis
service In the lower branch of the city
government he was president o. that body
for two years. In 1892 he was elected to a
seat In the Board OF Aldermen and be-
came its. president. During President
Cleveland's first term he served as assist.
ant superintendent of the Life. Saving
Service for the Newport district and for
years ho was mem Der of the Democratic
State Central Committee.
During tho rebellion he served under
Admiral Farragu: and received honorable
mention for his work as diver.
When the war was over he came home
and purchased the Isloop Young America
and started into the wrecking business,
and although his work was remarkable,
yet he was not always successful and lost
thousands OF dollars In trying to save the
property OF others.
Among many Of the big jobs he ac-
complished were the saying of the
steamers Providence and Bristol Of the
Old Colony line and the schooner Earle
p. Mason. On one occasion, when every
minute was of value, he resorted to the
feat OF putting on board the Mary Drury
on the south shore u boiler with lighted
fires and GO pounds OF steam, and just as
she was hauled of and before he could
tow her into port, the sea increased In
rocks and was broken up, the boiler and
pumps going with her.
More recently he saved 1000 barrels o!
cotton seed oil valued at $4,000 from the
ship Lydia Schofield and at one time he
was instructor in diving at the Torpedo
station at Newport.
He was a leading member of the Ma
sonic order and q Knights Templar, and
was the first illustrious grand potentate
of Palestine commaDdery. He was a
charter member o; the Newport lodge of
Elks and It's exalted ruler at one time,
O mem Der OF the Red Men, Knights of
Pythias, Ancient Order Of Foresters and
president of the Commercial club.
Capt. Waters was man who had warm
friends in all stations OF life, as his word
could always be depended upon, and also
on account OF his CHEEKY, genial DISPOSE
ton. Newport has lost one OF its most
able and honored sons.
He Is the first Chief Executive Of that
city to die In office, and 1t is not known
whether another election will be called or
the President OF the Board Of Aldermen,
Fred NJ. Hammatt, serve out the i,rm.
Mrs. Waters died about year ago, and
Capt. Waters leaves an unmarried
daughter and two sons, one in business
at Boston and the other, j. Frank Waters,
is railway postal clerk on the Old Colony
division.