The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-05
SEWALL IS DEAD.
Man Who Made the Race With
Bryan in 1896
Falls Victim to ApOplexy at
the Age of Ga.
STRICKEN ON SUNDAY,
He Remained Unconscious Until
Time of His Death.
Was in Attendance at the Kansas
City Convention.

Bath, Me, Sept. 5-Arthur SewaII died
at $3.50 a. m. today. Mr.. Sewan died at
his summer home, Small Point, about
IL miles from this city, of apoplexy, the
stroke having been sustained last Sun
day. He was Ga years of age.
Mr. Sewall had not been in good
health for sometime, although he was
not considered to be seriously ILL He
mad been advised by his physician to
rest, as early as last June, and he at
tended the Democratic national conven-
non IN July against the advice of his
DOCTOR He appeared to have suffered
no evil effects from the journey, how
ever, ana was passing the summer
quietly at Small Point when the fatal
stroke seized him.
The Inconsistencies which followed
the attack continued until death came
MIR. SEWALL'S LIFE.
Arthur Sewall, third son of William
Me-s November %, 1885, 200 years after
the founder of the family in this coun-
try left England to seek a fortune in the
a merican colonies
1t was a descendant of this first Sew
all who came to the district of Maine in
1f62 and purchased a large tract of for
est on the banks of the Kennebec which
ultimately laid the fortune of the fam
lily and made it the largest firm of pri-
vate ship owners in the world.
In 1923 William Sewan cut down some
of the trees in his forest, ripped them
into plankS in his little mill and built
of 199 tons, to carry the Sewall flag, a
white IS" on a blue field. Since that
day the firm has built no less than
ninety seven vessels, which have carried
cargoes to every part of the globe.
Arthur Sewall was educated in the
schools at Bath At an early age he de-
termined to learn the trade of ship
building and apprenticed himself to his
RI e
all. 1t was here he laid the foundation
of the knowledge of the business which
has made the firm of Arthur Sewall &
Co. famous the world over
Soon after his apprenticeship he
formed a partnership with his elder
brother. Edward, and they absorbed the
business of the old concern under the
firm name of E. e. A. Sewa1l. The first
vessel launched by the brothers was
the Holyhead. d ship of 1000 tons, in
1855. Every year since that time new
vessel, some of them the monsters of
their day, have been launched from the
Bath yards
In 1879, upon the death of his brother.
the firm was changed to Arthur Sewall
& Co., the partners being Mr.. Sewall and
his nephew, Samuel Sewall, and his sec
ond son, William D. Sewall Under the
present firm the activity in shfpbuild-
ing continued and in August 1892 they
launched the Roanoke, which was then,
as now, the largest wooden ship afloat
being over 3. 400 tons.
Mr.. Sewan made a trip in $780, on
which he visited all of the great ship
yards of the world. On his return his
desire to keep abreast of the times was
marked by the installation of a plant
in his own yards for the building of
steel ships, and the first result of this
equipment was the launching of the
Dirigo, a monster of over $500 tons
If it had been possible Arthur Sewan
would have devoted all of his energies to
the building of merchant sailing vessels
and his home. But his father was a
director of the Portland & Kennebec
railroad and he took his place. Ulti-
mately his holdings in various systems
became SO large that he figured among
the directors and was at one time presi-
dent of the Maine Central, of a steam
ship company and of a national bank.
Mr. SewaIl was essentially a home
man and delighted in one of the finest
places in the country. He believed that
a man should make his home as attract
i've as possible and live in it all of the
year around, and he thoroughly lived up
to his belief. Mr. Sewau had no use for
a coachman or slow horse. He loved
the blooded animal, liked to drive and
drive fast.
All of his life Arthur Sewall was a
ST udent, not SO much of books, as men,
and he knew them thoroughly. He and
the late James G. Blaine were warm
friends, each admiring the other for his
strength of purpose.
In politics Mr.. Sewan was always a
Democrat, but in 1895 he came out for
free silver and announced that it would
be the issue of the coming campaign.
When he received the nomination for
William Jennings Bryan he announced
his appreciation of the honor and de-
voted all of his energies to make the
ticket win.