Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-30
SERGEANT HILL
OFF [IFE'S BEAT
VETERAN POLICE OFFICER
DIES AT CHIEFS HOME
Gallant Old Civil War Veteran and
Faithful Early Day PATROL
man Expires After Long
Illness

Sergeant stephen ]. Hill. better
known as Commodore" Hill. one of
the oldest members of the police force,
died early yesterday morning at the
home of Chief Walter Auble, 1917 South
Hope street, after long and painful
Illness.
The funeral ' III be held from the
chapel of Pierce Bros. Tuesday after
noon at 2:30 o'clock 1t will be attend
ed by a detail of patrolmen and the
body will be viewed by hundreds of the
friends of the gallant old civil war vet
eran and police officer.
Sergeant Hill was born in Whiting,
Me-, March 19, 1887. the second son Of
a family of ten, four of whom are
now living; Mrs. George Hight of Los
Angeles, Mrs. N. Hough of Michigan
Bluff, Cal, George Hill of Sacramento
and Eugene Hill of Berlin alls, N. H.
Young Hill was of an adventurous
disposition and he became a sailor at
an early age. He was one of the first
to enlist in the Sixth Maine volunteer
regiment. Company C, and served until
the close of the civil war.
After visit at his old home he trav-
eled all over the world and engaged
in many ventures on land and sea.
Feared by the Lawless
He served two years on the police
force of Washington, ID. c.. and joined
the Los Angeles police force in 1887.
He was man of tremendous physical
strength and of daring courage aid he
was feared by the lawless element of
hn
haps no other o~lcer was ever feared.
For years he walked a beat with his
intimate friend, Walter Auble, now
chief of police, and the two men en-
gagged in many det perate fights with
criminals, who were very daring at that
time.
Hill was wounded during the civil
war and suffered other injuries during
the course of his life that robably
FASTENED the final course of his dis
ease
Last summer he was struck by a
street car at Seventh and Hill streets
and received injuries that were thought
to be fatal. His remarkable vitality
pulled him through, however, and he
returned to the force following his
partial recovery.
Although more than seventy years of
age the gallant old officer walked his
beat at Central park and never lost
day from illness until he was forced
to go to the hospital.
Life Slowly Ebbs Away
His last illr ress occurred while Chief
Auble was away from the city. When
the chief returned he insisted that his
old friend be brought to his own
home, where Mrs. Auble nursed him
with the greatest devotion.
The Commodore" chafed under the
enforced restraint of a sick room and
felt his long confinement keenly.
Chief Auble secured his police stick
and equipments and Hill spent long
days and nights of pain lingering his
grasp for many years as he paced his
beat
Although everything known to med
ical science was done to save the vet
eran's life, hope was abandoned a
month ago.
The disease puzzled the physicians.
He gradually lost the use of his limbs
and his mind slowly gave way. He
could recognize Chief Auble until the
last. and more than once he pathetical-
ly regretted the trouble he caused the
family.
Chief Auble said yesterday that Hill
was one of the best men thnt ever
worked in the Los Angeles police de-
partment. He said he was brave, true
to his duty and absolutely reliable.
Hill was a favorite among other pa
trolmen and he entertained them often
by stories of his sea adventures.