The St. Louis Republic., 1903-09-20
CoIors on Boats at Half Mast as
Token of Respect to
Henry Keith.
ON RIVER FOR MANY YEARS.
Death Removes From Steamboat
Circles One of the Best
Known Masters and
Navigators in West.

Colors OF crafts on the river were at
half-mast yesterday as a token OF respect
to the memory OF Captain Henry Keith,
who died at the City Hospital Friday
morning.
The death OF Captain Keith removed
from steamboat circles one OF the best
known masters and navigators OF the odd
river days, when steamboating was in
its glory.
Holding his thIrty-third license. as mas
ter and pilot, from Fort Benton to New
Orleans, on the Mississippi and Missouri;
to Peoria. on the Illinois: 70 Camden. on
the ouachita; to Shreveport, on the Red
River. and to Clifton on the Tennessee,
there Was scarcely a stream in the West
era waterways on which Captain Keith
had not steered boat
Captain Keith was born on the water,
in a little home overlooking the Ohio at
Newport, KY, in 1Si5. He came TO St
Louis when boy to learn the river
and fulfill the ambition which he had i'm
bibed on the banks of TIE Ohio
Captains William and John Massie
gave him his first chance on the Missouri.
II was hard apprenticeship. as he.
Mark Twain. and other boys discovered.
but they found that when they had mas
tered the Big Muddy they could take a
boat safely over 4 heavy dew.
There was no merrier or more popu-
lar master and pilot on the river in
those days than Captain Keith. The
captain OF a transatlantic liner was never
more popular at the dining table or
more vigilant on the bridge than he
Fond OF his passengers. an excellent
dancer. as well as master, people waited
to learn when Captain Keith's boat was
coming before taking passage on any
other.
His first boat to command was the
Anchor line steamer City OF Hickman,
playing between ST. Louis and Vicks-
Mississippi than she. Then Mayor NoOnan
rendered 10 Captain Keith the harbor
mastership OF St Louis. The position
was offered to him as a dark horse nonli-
dates Representative Robert A. Hicklin
Of Lafayette County advocated his nemi-
nation, as did Governor O'Meara-
STICKS TO THE BOAT.
The active life on the river and the
boom that the Hickman had obtained un-
der his command proved more attractive
than the office. and Captain Keith stuck
to the Eickman
Then CapIaln Hunter Ben Jenkins Of
fered TO captain keith the mastership of
the steamer Wyoming, one of the finest
Missouri RIVER packets. under a three
OF Vlcksburg. the Belle OF St. LOUIS. the
Glasgow, the St Luke. the W. J. Lewis.
ali afterwards fell under Captain keith's
command ,es.-
When he afterwards took command OF
the. CITY. OF Msnshis. in the 81. Louis Ind
Nisksourg trade, the boat had the small
lest tonnage OF any on the line. but Cap
tain Keith soon maGe her the best pay
ing proposition in the trade.
Wish his BROTHER. Captain George c.
Keith. he made several successful trips to
Fort Benton. on the Eagle Packet Com
pauy's steamer Mountaineer. the biggest
boat that ever put her head into Fort
Benton.
STICKS TO ST. LOUIS.
The last boat that Captain Keith took
out OF 81. Louis was the San Salvador, =
steamer built for the Brazilian rivers in
South America He Diloted her safely
down to New Orleans two weeks ago. and
the owners made him fiattering offer to
remain with them in the Brazilian trade
He was 100 fond Of ST. Louis 10 accept
the ofrer, however. declaring that he pre-
ferred to spend his remaining days among
the scenes Of his early river triumphs.
captain keith had been a MEMBER of
the Commercial Council of the Legion of
honor fo- fifteen years. and at the time
OF his death carried an insurance of 500
In that order.
Captain Keith never married. He leaves
q brother. Captain George Keith. of the |
Eagle Packet Cpmpany's steamer Gray
Eagle. and sister. the wife of Captain |
William Massie. his first employer AIS |
nephews are Henry. Hunter and William
Keith. the latter clerk on the new ST, |
Paul; Mrs. Cora Stephens OF New York |
City. Mrs Fannie Mcclellan, and Miss
HSdie Aass.e are nieces.
Captain Keith's funeral will take place
from Hasoners acknowledgements at |
O'Clock tomorrow afternoon. The nall
bearers will consist OF Captains Mason
Chapman. George Murray, ". 3. Nc
Mauus and Louis Burbach. Albert Outley |
and Joseph MCCULLOUGH.