Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-17

great In saving MS lie.
From the Emergency Hospital he was
taken to George Washington University
Hospital and remained there until about
three weeks ago. when. his condition
having improved somewhat. he was
taken to his home. The improvement
shortly after reaching home he became
very ill. Dropsy developed, and for two
weeks or longer his death was momen-
tarily expected. His wife, one son.
Mrs. J. Frank Carlin of Alexandria and
Miss Elizabeth Randall of this city sur
vive him. Mrs. A. p. Kretchmar, the
mother of Capt. Randall, who is an
octogenarian,. also survives him..
Native of New York.
Capt. Randall was born in northern New
York. in the vicinity of Canandaigua, fif-
ty-eight years ago, but when quite a
small boy he was brought to this city by
his mother and had resided here since
When but a boy about eleven years of
age he was emp'o Dyed by a sutIer with
the Union army in Virginia. and he wit
messed the battle of Manassas. Capt. Ran
dali. often in private told of his ex-
periences when the Federal forces were
defeated. He secured, he said, white
mule and started for this city. Although
the mule did its best, he said it did not
seem to him that it was moving. but he
reached washington with the retreating
army in safety.
Following the civil war. Capt. Randall
was engaged IN various business pursuits
in this city and was for time caterer
on the old steamers running to Norfolk
Working his way through the various
grades he was licensed by the govern
ment officials as master and pilot or
steam vessels. About twenty-five years
ago, with little capital except his own
energy. he embarked in the steamboat and
excursion business and his career since
then had been almost exclusively along
that line. His first steamer was the old
Mary Washington. About the same time
he purchased what has since been known
as River View, the tract of land on which
the resort now stands, and where numer-
GUS buildings were erected by Can't Ran
dali. From the first it was popular, and
the old Mary Washington became too
small for the business and another and
larger boat had to be secured. In New
York Capt. Randall purchased the fine
steamer Crystal Wave. but coming down
the coast to this city she was run into
by steamship off the coast of Delaware
and was sunk. BY this catastrophe Capt
Randall lost $4,000 he had paid on the
vessel
The loss of this sum would have taken
the energy out of most men. but within
week Capt. Randall was again looking
Tor steamer. and the Samuel J. Pentz
was purchased in Baltimore. Not con-
tented with the handsome excursion bust
ness he had built up. he purcba sed the
steamer John w Thompson about fifteen
years ago rebuilt and renamed her the
Harry Randall. and established a freight
and passenger route on the river This
business was successful. and since 1900
Capt. Randall purchased the steamers and
business of the Washington Steamboat
Company. his rivals in the Potomac trade.
He also. about the same time plircha sed
the interests of the Colonial Beach I'm
provement Company i'm that resort and
since 1902 he operated excursion steamers
to that point during the summer months.
1t is conceded that to his skill as a man.
aser Colonial Beach owes it's development.
Stock Company Formed
Two years ago the Randall steamboat
and excursion fines were merged into a
stock company under the title of the
Washington and Potomac Steamboat
Company. but in 1t Capt Randall re-
tanned controlling interest. Since
the reorganization of the company the
steamers Queen Anne and ST. Johns were
purchased The recent financial str:n-
sency caught Capt. Randall unprepared.
and being unable to raise funds to meet
pressing obligations. his company. with
his consent. January % of this year was
placed in the hands of receivers by ac-
ton of the District court.
Capt. Randall continued to manage the
business until he became i'll. and when it
was definitely known that his illness was
Of a serious nature Capt. David Van
Cleaf of New York was engaged by the
receivers to look after the business
Capt. Randall was OF a kindly DISPOSE
ton and was greatly beloved by his en-
ployes. most of whom had been with him
Tor many years. He was reserved man.
but those who knew him found him to be
most congen.al His death is sincerely
regretted.