The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-01
Death of the Well Known
Block Islander.
Sudden Illness and Advanced
Age We're the Causes.
He Was Proprietor of Ocean View
Hotel--Sketch of His Life.

Hon. Nicholas Ball died after q short
illness, at his home on Block Island, last
evening at 1920 o'clock.
The deceased was a lifelong resident
OF the sea-girt isle, and no man had done
more than he for its progress and the
development of its resources.
tie was born December 81, 1928, in a
little cottage situated half way between
Great Salt Lake and Trimnis pond. Ills
parents were Edmund and Charity
tDoige) Ball, and he was descendant
of Hon. Peter Ball OF English heritage,
who was prominent in the Colonial Legis-
lature. and obtained for the island its
first pier of 1885
After 10 years OF hard work as farmers
boy and cabin boy on short trips, and
after acquiring what education the little
island school afforded, he shipped as cook
on the schooner Richard Rush, at so a
month, and from.that time until 1858 the
greater portion of his life was aboard
ship. His promotion was rapid and he
went from a cabin boys berth through
the intermediate stages OF cook, seaman,
able seaman, quartermaster, and mate TO
captain and owner. Including a very
few trips which he made as passenger,
his record was IS voyages. and that in
cluded al! countries and all climes.
His first voyage as captain and part
owner was aboard the Brooklyn, sailing
from San Francisco. That was his 3sth
voyage, and after that he commanded
the schooner Catherine Miller on 38 voy-
ages.
rkxt. ,ao
not continuous, as Captain Ball was one
OF the "forty- miners" in the gold telds
ofCalifornia, and he has left ii most inter-
esting and valuable bit OF history rela-
tive to those days In tho shape OF an
itemized mining record, showing the
value of each days digging. On Tues
day, May 3, 1851, he sold his share.
In 1854 he returned to Block Island and
engaged In mercantile pursuits. In
tho following year he was elected TO the
lower branch of the General Assembly
and reelected in 1856.
In 1868 he was cent to tho State Sem
ate, and with the exception OF 1850, 1861
and 1862, served in that body until 1873.
In his voyages he had learned the
possibilities of improving his native
island, and as a legislator he soon saw
how the desired improvements must be
obtained.
His first triumph was to obtain the
government breakwater, which has
cost 5000, 200. BY further persistent
efforts no secured the life saving station
on the west coast OF Block Island in 1872,
and soon afterward another near the
breakw Then he was instrumental
In getting the immense siren and the
lighthouse at Southeast Point. And after
repeated efforts he secured the signal
station and the submarine BILE connect.
ing the island with the mainland.
He retired from commercial life in
1874, and built the Ocean View Hotel,
of which he has since been pro-
prietor. In 1851 lie married Eliza
Milliken, and the surviving children OF
this union are Cassius c., Efiie A, and
Schuyler T..
Mrs. Ball died April ia, 1870, and he
afterward married Mrs. Almeda X. Little
.1eld.
In 1883 Mr.. and Mrs. Ball went on
pleasure trip tborugh Europe and in 1890
they visited the scenes CT his early
triumph in the gold fields Of California.
He was a mem ber of the Society OF Cali
iornia Pioneers OF New England.