Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-07
CAPTAIN FRENCH DEAD
Oldest Navigator Residing in
Washington.
I'LL FOR SEVERAL WEEKS
Distinguished Career in Mercantile
and Government Service.
FRIEND OF GROVER CLEVELAND
Commanded Lightship Tender Maple
When Late President Used Ship
for Hunting Cruises.
FRIEND OF GROVER CLEVELAND

Capt. Daniel A. French. one of the old
est mariners. in point Of service. resi- ling
in this city. died at his home, 1925 9Th
street southwest yesterday afternoon
shortly after 2 o'clock OF complication
of diseases. after an illness of several
weeks
The funeral will take place from his late
residence Friday afternoon at 1 o'clock.
and the interment will be at Oak Hill
cemetery.
AS mark of respect to the memory Of
the deceased the flags on a number Of the
tugs and steamers in the harbor have been
placed at half-mast His wife and two
daughters-Miss Mamie French of this
city and Mrs. John Tyne of Brookland.
d. C.-survive him.
Followed Sea From Youth.
Capt. French was a native of Massa-
chusetts, and comes of seafaring family.
His father had been master of a sailing
vessel. Capt French accompanied him on
many voyages.
When but boy he came to this city
and engaged in the tugboat business. He
mas owned and operated several tugs in
the Potomac river service, among them
the s. L. Brown and H. c. Winship,
which We're sold and taken north. Later
| Capt. French entered the United States
lighthouse service and commanded light
house tenders on Chesapeake bay and at
other points on the coast
| When the tender Maple was built for
the fifth district. which includes Chesa-
! peake bay and tributaries within its limits
Capt. French was made her first COM
mander. He was in command when
| Grover Cleveland, while President used
the Maple for hunting trips to the North
mo dc
came warm friend of Capt. French.
About twelve years ago Capt. French
retired from the lighthouse service to
enter the merchant service as a master
in the Clyde line. trading to Atlantic
| coast ports. While in command of the
steamer Goldsboro. she caught fire at
sea. With great skill Capt. French kept
the fire confined. and carried his ship into
New York. where she had to be sunk to
extinguish the flames raging in her hold
For this service he was warmly COM
mended by the management of the line.
Quits and Resumes Service.
His eyesght failing. Capt. French was
forced to relnquish sea service for sew
eral years. About five years ago he so far
recovered as to be able to return to ac-
tive duty
Entering the United States Army engi-
neer service, Capt. French navigated the
for the engineers from Philadelphia to
New Orleans. Later he took dredges to
Savannah. Boston and other points on the
coast, and also to Lake Michigan, by
way Of the st. Lawrence river and the
great lakes.
For a time he was in command of the
dredge at work on Lake Michigan. He
also had command of dredges at other
points.
OF recent years he has been in the
United States quartermaster's depart
ment service. Until about six months ago
he was in command of an army steamer
at Stonington, Conn. From there he was
transferred to a port on the south At
lantic and was on duty there when strick-
en- by his last Illness.
About two weeks ago he was brought
to his home in this city. The best medi-
cal skill was called in, but the case was
hopeless.
Capt. French was one of the few steam
boat men of this city holding a master
license allowing him to command and
navigate steamers in any port in the
world. He was a man of wide Informal
ton gained by study. experience and OBJ
servation.
He would entertain friends with inter-
esting stories of his experiences during
his long career on different seas