The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-12-08
ON THE PORTLAND.
WILLIAM [. CHASE OF THIS CITY
FINDS A WATERf GRAVE.
AN OLD RESIDENT OF KENosHA.
He Had Gone to dis Old Home in Worcester
Mass on Visit and With Nephew
he Had Started to The Woods of
Maine on Hunting Trip.

The sinking of the steamer Portland
which lies today on the rocks near
Highland Hight on the Massachusetts
coast will be of great interest to Keno
sha people since it seems certain that
William L. Chase one of Kenosha's
oldest and best known citizens was one
of the illfated passengers who went
down to watery grave on the old side
wheel steamer. On the passenger list
are found the names of William l.
Chase and Master Philip Chase OF
Worcester Mass. and the friends, OF
| Mr.. Chase in this city say that there
can be no doubt but that the man lost
on the Portland was former resident
of KenOsha. Mr.. Chase had been
resident of Kenosha for many years
and during his residence in this city he
has been employed at the Brass mill
Several weeks ago a change was made
in the management Of the mills and
! Chase with several others were dropped
from the force. He remained until
few weeks ago when he decided to
make visit to his old home IN WOr-
cester Mass. He was a great hunter
and his little room whore he lived IN
this city resembled more the arsenal OF
a military post, than the humble dwell
ling of a labOrer in the Brass mill
Every year he was granted short va
cation and he always spent it hunting
deer IN the forests of Northern WiscOn-
sin. This year being forced to take
long vacation he decided to go to the
forests of Maine and enrOure to the
hunting grounds he went down on the
illfated Portland.
William L. Chase came to this city
from Massachusetts about fifteen years
ago and since that time he has been
EMPLOYED in the Brass mill. He was
an expert workman in all kinds of
metal and was very valuable man for
his employers Among the workman
he was known as old Bill Chase" and
he was a general favOrite. He was
never married, but used all his life and
powers in making life more pleasant
and cheerful for others, and many a
friend will shed tears over his sad and
unfortunate death.
Old Bill Chase, expert steel worker,
globe trotter. musician, and the prince
of story tellers, by his death will cause
a pang of sorrow in many hearts. His
was checkered career. Early in life
be became musician and in his wan
behring's he was connected with such
organizations as Gilmore's Band, Hig
gins famous orchestra, and Buffalo
BilPs Wild West SHOW. His adventures
were many and in his travels he was in
nearly every part of the world. He
could tell story as no other man
in Kenosha, and when he got in one Of
bis reminiscent moods be was always
sure to draw large crowd eager to
hear of his trials and victories. He
has, during his residence in KenOsha,
been connected with nearly every mu
steal organization in the city and his
old flute and CHEEKY cOuntenance was
familiar figure whenever music was
played.
Many expressions of sorrow have
been heard today over the sad death of
VIM. Chase, and many story of him
is being told. One of these relates to
his connection with George Higgins
and his famous orchestra.
Higgins was a character very similar
to Chase, and in their wanderings they
had been much together, but the
former was the more fortunate and
some years ago he succeeded in organ
izing famous orchestra which made a
triumphant tour of the States. 1t
played in KenOsha and Chase was in
attendance Long years before Hig
gins had given his old friend an old
flute and on the night of the concert
Bill put the old instrument under his
coat and sent it to Higgins during the
concert. The latter recognized the old
flute at once and calling his old COM
rade out of the crowd the two held
reunion which brought tears to many
eyes in the audience, and the curtain
was rung down with old Bill and Hig-
gins playing one of the tunes they had
learned in their life together as wan
dering MINISTRIES. So was Chase's
friendship with all men who he deigned
to honor with his confidence. He was
one of Gods noblemen, and should his
remains be returned to Kenosha tor
inUerment, the largest funeral ever
seen in Kenosha will pay tribute to
his manhood and his true friendship
With beloved nephew, of whom he
bad often spoken with his friends in
this city, he has gone to the happy
hunting grounds above and the city of
Kenosha has lost one of it's most hon.
ored and respected citizens.
Pains in the chest when person has
cod indicate a tendency toward
pneumonia. A piece of flannel damp
opod with observation-disclosures Doin Rolp,