The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-12
THOMAS r. WILLIAMS DEAD.
FoF Years stenOErRpher for Charles A.
Dana why lie Was Called skipper"

PoF Years StenOGFRpher for Charles A..
Dana--Why lie Was Called skipper"
Thomas Frederick Williams, who since
1870 had been connected with THE Sun,
died yesterday morning at his home on
Staten Island OF pneumonia, after an illness
OF week. Il was the third attack Of pneu-
monia he had suffered in a year. He took
cold while preparing his boat FOR the open
ing Of the fishing season. lie was noted
angler In the waters about New York and
was 40 we'll known that many Of the local
craft were in the habit Of saluting him when
they saw him In his boat in the bay,
He was born In Ireland In a suburb OF
Dublin in 1sl7. He was educated at the
College Of 81. Francis Xavier. OF the -Belve-
deTe College as Il was more Familiarity
called. He went through the preparatory
and part Of the collegiate course at 81.
Francis Xavier and then became a reporter
on a Dublin Newspaper with which his
father was connected. He was also editor
and almost the entire stan Of the Longtord
Register, which he controlled for a time.
In these year, he spent a brief period IN
London and Paris.
Toward the close Of the civil war he came
10 this country. For q while he was steno-
graphic reporter for the House Of Repre-
sentatives In GeoTgia, and later he went
10 Florida, where he remained for a brief
period. doing stenographio and reporting
work In various cities. When he went back
10 Georgia It was TO exchange for a shotgun
the property he had bought there and move
further north. He was In Maryland and
Virginia before he settled in Washington.
Here he was private secretary TO Gen. o. o.
Howard Of the Freedman's Bureau during
the most troublesome times Of it's history
and later he became a stenographer under
Dennie Murphy, the official Senate reporter.
Afterward he worked under Henry Hays
and was attached during the greater part
Of his stay TO the Washington IHtelligeRoer
Mr.. Williams was always keenly inter
eeted In the Fenian movement, which
was expected 20 make such headway in
the United States after the end Of the
war Of the rebellion. He belonged to
the American branch Of the association
and was a delegate TO the PASSPORT con-
vention. He was also one Of the company
that took down the British flag at Indian
Island and was fired on by e mAn-of-war
Skipper Williams as he was always called
from his delight in his boat and In ing
on the water, used 20 say In MS later years
that this undertaking was not nearly so
bIoodthiraty as IL sounded. He was the
least qualified among the men TO have
hand In the enterprise, az most Of the Others
had had military experience in the war.
He did not have this advantage, and more
than once 1t was necessary Tor MS COM
mander TO reprimand him.
In 1870 he came 20 New York, and after
working on several other newspapers be-
came permanently attached 10 THE sun
The late Charles A. Dana ntil his death
dictated all his writings and correspond
a court stenographer and was one OF the
frat TO found large Office devoted TO this
work. He wrote with interest and au-
thority on matters pertaining 70 yachting
and his favorite sport Of fishing.
Mr. Williams was married In 1874 and soon
afterward moved 70 New Brighton. He
had been a widower for twelve years. Five
daughters and a son survive him.