The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-11
HOTEL LOBBY CLGANINGS
A REMARKABLE MAN WHO is NINE
TY-EIGHT YEARS OLD.
Captain II. III. Pitcher Has Had Many
Wonderful Experiences-Other
Hotel Visitors.

1t is not every day that a man ninety
eight years of age registers at an Indian
apolis hotel, but such was the case yester-
day when Capt. r. III. Pitcher, of Custer
City, s. D., engaged quarters at the Deni-
son. However, of those who saw Captain
Pitcher about the lobby of the hotel last
night none estimated his age at above
eighty-five, while the majority placed him
in the seventies, for he is certainly a re-
markedly well-preserved man and to all
appearances is good for another decade.
Born Sept. 10, 1904, in Athens county Ohio,
Captain Pitcher has led life as varied
and eventful as ever comes to the lot of
man. Thirty-one years a steamboat man
on the Ohio and lower Mississippi rivers,
a veteran of the Mexican and civil wars,
several years a farmer in Indiana, a plains
man and then a gold seeker in California
just after the great discoveries of 40, eight
cen months a diamond miner in South
Africa, a residence of five years in Indian
apolis and thirty years a gold miner in
the Black hills of South Dakota, give Cap
tain Pitcher some claims to the life strenu-
Gus. although he is extremely modest and
told the story of some of his experiences
only under protest last night. Incidentally
the captain has made five trips to Europe
and has been in almost every State and
territory in this country.
Captain Pitcher is now in Indianapolis on
a business mission connected with the
transfer of some mining properties, which
he controls in the Black hills. to a COM
pany that is being organized here. He ex-
poets to spend several days here.
llxy ha onfo in, ic ho1a ~
hearty as most men who have just round
ed out the three-score years and ten al
lotted to mankind. His figure is erect, his
step strong, his complexion clear. his eyes
bright, and his grip, when he shakes hands,
weighs in the neighborhood of 10 pounds,
Is slightly above the average height and
has a snow-white moustache and chin
beard, while his hair, what there is Of it, is
iron gray. When asked to what he attrib-
uted his longevity Captain Pitcher. laughed
as he replied: We'll, l have not eaten
pie all my lifenthat is to say: 1 have
chewed tobacco, have never SMOKED a
cigar. have never taken pinch Of SNUFF.
and 1 was never drunk. although have
drunk more or less all my life
Captain Pitcher was steamboating on the
Ohio and Mississippi when the with
Mexico broke out. He enlisted in the Sec
ond Ohio and served throughout the war
returned to the river for while, and then
in so he started overland for the gold mines
of the Pacific coast He drove a team from
the trip requiring five months and six days
and involving many hardships and adven-
lures. He did not stay in California long,
however, as he caught the diamond fever
and shipped on sailing vessel for South
Africa, where he spent year and half.
He then returned to his Ohio home and
farmed until '6S. when he moved over into
II uyh he
a farm. In II he came to Indianapolis,
spending five years in this city. While he
was here he lived at the old Pyle House,
conducted by William Porter, on Meridian
street just off the Circle, and at the CAPITOL
Hotel, on Washington street, just west of
the Statehouse.
In 1876 the mining fever again took pos
session of the captain, and he went to the
Black hills country, arriving in Deadwood
in May of that year. He started out pros
pecting at once, and has been in the min
ing business in that country ever since,
making his home at present at Custer City.
He is enthusiastic in regard to the future
of the mining business in that section of
the country, which he claims has some of
the greatest mines in the world. His Euro
pean trips were made to sell mines, the
last time he crossed the Atlantic being in
1896.
Captain Pitcher cast his first presidential
ballot in 1926, voting for Andrew Jackson.
However, he says that Jackson was the
only Democrat for whom he has ever vot-
ed for President and he has long been a
Republican of the dyed-in- the wool variety
Four years ago the captain went through
an experience which demonstrated the ten
acious grip he has on life and encouraged
him to believe that he is good for many
years yet. He was caught by a runaway
team attached 10 a moving machine, run
down and severely injured, suffering
fractured leg and a broken collarbone, be-
sides sundry cuts and bruises. Considering
his age ii Is remarkable that he ever re-
covered. or that he was not left a help
less cripple, but he says that he was in bed
only a short time and that the fractured
bones have never caused him any trouble
although he is extremely careful of him.
self now. The only serious sicknesses he
ever had were sieges with the yellow fever
in New Orleans in 1887 and with the As.atic
cholera. He went through two wars un-
scathed, and with record of never having
missed days duty on account of sick
ness He served four years and nine
months in the civil war as a captain in
the Second Virginia Cavalry.
Captain Pitcher has three children, two
sons and a daughter, whose ages range
form forty-seven TO fifty-two years His
wife has been dead for several years His
both in he fnf h,,Si t.. l.