Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-04-06
AQUA1NTCHARACTER
CAPTAIN PRESERVED FISH, WHO HAD
A WILL OF HIS OWN.

Hest In Preserved Flsh's Family
Vault In New York CITY.
In the Marble cemetery in New York
city, among tombstones Of men more
or less intimately associated with the
early history of the metropolis. stands
one bearing the inscription, Preserved
Fish's Family Vault" The inscription
has queer ring to It. suggestive Of
the odd character whose name It per-
petuates. According to all the tales
told Of him, Preserved Fish was an &C.
centric sort Of man, and that definite.
almost defiant declaration Of owner
ship on his tombstone 10 in keeping
with the rugged, self reliant character
Of the man in life.
There is some doubt about the man.
nor in which Preserved Fish came by
his given name. According to one sto-
~, when small boy he was picked up
in midocean hanging to bit Of broken
spar with that determination which he
evinced in after life In such marked
degree. His rescuers declared then
and there that Preserved" was the
name for the youth, and Preserved he
was called.
But, according to Edmund Norman
Leslie. a relative, Preserved was a
common name among the Huguenots
prior to the American Revolution, and
his ancestors came by his name in the
same prosaic manner as many Of the
period, being born the son of Ports
mouth (R. ~ blacksmith in 1866. who
had been christened Preserved.
Like many other boys Of the time he
ran away to sea. shipping as cabin boy
on whaler. He rose rapidly. and at
twenty-one was captain. Evidently
Captain Fish appreciated the odd numc
he bore. for story is told Of him that
while captain of New Bedford whal-
err he was held up by revenue cut
ter.
what ship is that" demanded the
captain of the cutter.
THE Flying Fish," answered the
youthful commander.
whats her cargoY' was the next
question.
"Pickled fish," was the prompt an
swer.
"And who is captain?"
preserved Fish,"
These answers had fishy sound to
the revenue officer. He ordered the brig
to heave to and boarded her. only to
find that the answers were true in ev-
cry detail.
Captain Fish turned landsman in
1910, quitting the sea and going into
business in New Bedford. He entered
politics, and after a most troublesome
time suddenly decided to leave New
Bedford.
II want you to sell my house." he de-
clared to an auctioneer whom he
CHANGED to meet in the street.
But we will not get anything like
its value here" protested the auction
Ger.
did say anything about getting its
fierce retoinder of Captain Fish. So,
sacrificing his property, the captain
left New Bedford and settled in Flush
ing, N. T., as farmer. 1t was while
living there that o disagreement arose
between him and q neighbor who had
been his closest friend. The two be-
came bitter enemies. and, Indeed, so
deep was the hatred OH Captain Fishs
part that on one occasion when the
neighbor saved his life after his cat.
boat had been wrecked in He'll Gate
he did not even thank his enemy for
the act.
Soon after this incident Captain
Fish moved to New York city. Turn
ing his back upon political ONCE, he
formed, with Joseph Grinnell. the
shipping house partnership of Fish &
Grinnell. ana the first regular line OF
Liverpool packets was started.
Captain Fish got along finely in the
shipping business until in 1929 he
went to Liverpool with about 100000
Of capital and an unlimited amount
Of ambition. Two years later he
came back minus the ambition and
twO.thirds Of his fortune.
1t was after that venture that, hav
ing formed partnership with Sam
uel Allay Of new York city, the grouty
old captain entered the office late ono
morning
Il hope you are well this morning
captain" remarked bis partner.
This. SIR" growled Captain Fish
us place for business. not compli
ments." Mr.. Allay was himself q
man of some spirit. In less time than
1t takes to tell 1t the firm OF Fish &
Allay became thing Of the pnst, and
the sign was being converted into
kindling wood.
Captain Fish could never forgive
any one for failing to be punctual. TIC
him the man who failed to keep an
appointment was wholly unworthy OF
trust in the future. Once in the early
days Of the shipping business the pilot
who was to take vessel to sea at a
certain hour on certain day was
prevented from getting to the ship al
the time agreed upon. though through
no fault Of his own. Captain Fish pi
loted the vessel to sen himself, and
when the pilot appeared he discharged
him without n hearing.
Captain Fish was married three
times. but had no children. and his life
was preserved" to the good old age
OF eighty-one. An oil painting Of him
Ia to be seen in the Chamber of Com.
MERGE building.
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