The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-27
Walker Captured a Blockade Runner Un-
der the Nays Nose.
SKETCH Of THE -K0BLE CAPTAINS LIFE
hreetcucd To SINK u ship iriEc Wns
In,eriercd WITHIN cdais for BrnNc-
ry-Hc Has Sailed from He"ch
street. New York. for Foriy-f""r
Years His Father Also "a Captain.

l
of the Old Dominion Steamship Guayan-
'dotte, one OF the best known and most
poular captains running into this port;
The Sun says:
There are few If any coas;wise steam
ship travellers out of New York who
have not me; Captain George NJ. Walk
en- the genial commander Of the Old
Dominion steamship Guyandottc. Cap
tain Walker has had long and varied
carcer. He has earned medals for BRAY
cry nj sea, been shipwrecked several
times, ana also distinguished himself
during the war by capturing two valu-
able blockalers 1t may aStonish the |
BLUM, hearty mariners numerous friends |
TO learn that Captain Walker Is tho |
oldest Captain sailing in and out OF this |
port. No one. TO look nj his bronZed |
bearded face and sturdy figure us ne
PAGES the deck, would for momen;
imagine that Captain Walker Is in his
seventeen year. 1t is q fact, neverthc-
less.
Captain Walker jocularly says that he
has been sailor from his birth lie
explains this assertion by the statement
that he was born al sea. His father
commanded the British brig Fox.
Mrs Walker accompanied her husband
ON his voyages, and the present Captain
OF the Guayandotte was born on July
20, 1896, jus. as the Fox was entering
the chops of the English Channel
captain Walkers real career as a
sailor began when he was thirteen wears
Of age. AT this period in his life he
became an apprentice on the British
snip Sea Gull. This ship was engaged
In the East India and China trades.
Captain Walker served four years
aboard the Sea Gull. He then became
first mate under his father. who had
purchased the ship Joseph X. Penn. lie
renamed t.a aboard the Joseph r. Penn
u.N 4,
IN 1876 she was outward bound to
ODESSA with cargo of coal and iron
and was driven on the rocks i'm a hurri
cane The next two years of Cantain
< Walkers life We're put in coasiInr
around Great Britain ana Ireland, with
an occasional trip 10 baltic ports
In 1913 Captain Thomas Walker and
ms VIE and family decided to leave
England and come to this country. The
nero OIL this story accompanied his ma
rents. Ihey settled in brooklyn in lS4S
on me spot where Captain George III
,,,, s,Set now lives y very lucrative
business III connection with the son In
those days was what was known as -
i rigging gang" The work consisted IN
s. nttlhs CUT vessels of ali kinds win
4 masts, spars, and rigging.
o'ti Dorahs gang OF riggers had :,
uTan.p oi inns business in what Capt
sker aiiudes 10 as the pnod III
Gays. Walker worked with Dn,om.s
E gang until 1851, when, on the odvjra 80,
ms father, he returned to n s,,f.,rir,,
life. seaiaF!hS
shall never forget that night" .,i1
Sapa. walker My father said to me:
Eecfse, You ought not 10 work y,
rigging gang all your days. You omrh.
10 look ahead I agSs ed with him .n,i
next day crossed over To Naw yorl
and there ] saw the most bs,n,,,,,i
mat nSsa nad ever seen. resolved 10
49, oa'u lhai vessel if I could II
vas Inc Humboldt. of the New Yor,,
southampton and Havre Steamship
company. ] applied for n Mace IN.
iiie pest could get was that of an able
pnulcd seamen. made one ynynrr,
Ailer one voyage | was made uuartnr-
$3.50, Aho.her voyage and was
promoted to be fourth officer. In ,his
position served until 1883, when tho
!iumo olut was lost off The Sister Rn,,,s
we were putting into Halifax for cnaj
ana the Humboldt was. in charge M
piiot at the Tins. There was a dense
Toe, put we marnged to save mn ,h,
passengers and the bulk of the cargo
the New York Southamntnn a
bremen Steamship Company. wh;cb va
practically III" slnrsI comnanv no ~,
~hich owned the Humboldt. then launch.
go the steamship Washington. ,'ar,
LII .nes, whp commanded the Humboldt.
was appointed Captain. and Cant. Walk
or took step nearer command by rs.t
Ing promoted to be third officer. He
served aDort year on the Washlnc,or
ana was then transferred 10 another
steamship named the Franklin. ca,
Wotton, whose son-in-law Lieut.. C;.orca
w DE Long, persisted in thu Arnsic
Exepdition which bore his name in lS7o
was in command of the Franklin. Cant
walker was third officer OF the FronIi
III. This Steamship was in existence
ABOUT eighteen months when she tried
to take a short Gu; to this port ,nI
came to grief like many Others on Fire
Island beach. a thick fog prevailed ~
the time, and the Franklin was in
charge OF pilot, so the officers were
heid blameless for the loss of the yes
Sci. Another new steamship the Arecn
was placed on the line about this time
Capt. Lines was in command and no
made successful efforts to have Walker
made his third officer. He was ,nir,,
officer of the Arego until the Fulton
was built. In all he Du. in two years on
the As+gO. Capt. Walker began ms
third officer of the Fulton and wound nm
as CAPTAIN of her. He succeeded Cart
Motton as commander OF The Fulton
Inc Fulton has been chartered by tbs
government. She was engaged In car
rEing stores to Port ROYAL. s. c.. dur.
Ing the war. Capt. Wotton was taken
III and was ordered TO undergo an opera
ton. He asked the directors of tn:
company. of. which Isaac Bell was pree;
GEM. 10 appoint his chief officer. Cant
walker, TO the command OF the Fulton
Inc directors said he was too yo,inr
70 nave charge of a vessel Capt. No: