The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-01-19
R. I. HOWES
BREATHES HIS LAST
NOTED MARINER or THE
NORTHWEST sUccUMBs TO
ORGANIC MALADY.


Howes, the well known mariner and
Columbia river bar pilot, breathed his
last. after an illness Of about two
weeks duration, the malady which
overcame him being congestion Of the
liver, from which, in greater or less
degree he had suffered for years.
Yesterday morning he was appar-
emily very much better, but it proved
but the mortal rally that is wont to
express itself just before the grim
crisis. His death must come AZ a
shock 10 the host Of good friends he
has IN this city and section, for up to
his last illness he was, to all casual
appearances, In the best OF health
He fought indomitably against the
encroaehment Of the disease and con-
siantly ayowed his intention to mas
ter the trouble, even while he was the
sickest.
Captain Howes has one OF the fin
est Of sea records on the Northwest
coast and his friends, ashore and
aaoat, are legion. He was man Of
great force Of character and OF lively
and cheerful habit, urbane and kindly
and gracious in all his habits with
men, women and children and an
ideal man in his home, which was to
him the center Of all things in this
life. He leaves a widow, and one son,
Lemuel T. 'Howes, 10 mourn his sad
and sudden death, and both have the
profound sympathy Of wide circle
Of friends and Of people who knew
and respected the captaia in every
walk of life at this end Of the Co
ilmbia.
Man and boy, for 50 years. Captain
Howes has been sailor. He was
born at Cape Cod, Mass, in 1916
the would have been 63 years Of age
today, and went out upon the high
seas when he was IL years Of age,
following the Atlantic coast trade for
some time, and bringing up in the
port Of San Francisco in 1861 on the
good ship "FIying Scud." He return
ed TO New York, via Iquiqui and Liv-
erpool, and then took service in the
West India and Mediterranean trade,
which he followed for six years. He
then made a voyage to Greenland;
and in 1868 became master Of the |
bark Lemuel, afterward commanding
the Hornet
After severing his connection with
the latter vessel he sailed for the
Australias. China and the Orient, in
The bark Midas, which was lost on
reef, while en- route from Hong
Kong to Manila. He made the home
rip to New York, and sailed thence
% the Columbia river and Portland,
IS mate Of the ship Freeman Clark,
taving her at this port to take
,imilar position on the Jane A. Fal-
Captain Howes then took a
,ear's vacation ashore, at Portland,
md when he went to sea again, it was
IS pilot on board the Mary Taylor,
nd from her he went to the bar pilot
schooner ]. c. Cousins He next
ppears as pilot on the San Francisco
Portland liner Mississippi, serving on ;
Ter until she was burned, then he I
,assed to the steamship Oregon, and Ii
erved on her as pilot for a period /
{ 10 years. When the pilots were no Il
onger employed on these liners, he L
tas given charge of the tug Donald,
nd operated her successfully until
he was replaced.
Probably the greatest and most
hrilling experience this able sailor
yer went through was when, as
iaster of the sidewheel steamship
Alaskan, he saw 80 Of his crew and
eople perish in the awful gale that
vrecked her on the open seas off
ape Blanco on the 10th Of May, 1883, !
hen he and 10 others, including Cap
lin George Wood, of the bar service,
scaped after the most desperate
sks and exposure, Captain Howes
oating abroad on the sea for SO 5
ours, alone, on a small piece of v
ecldug. being finally picked up by a a
assing steamer. After this he be- i
anne master Of the tug Escort No. 2, b
nd staid with her for another NUM-
er cf years, and when he left her,
'ent on the Columbia river bar as a
ilot and member Of the Columbia E
liver Bar Pilots Association about d
our years ago. p
Here he has served faithfully and t
bly, ever since, and was an honored c
lember Of that association at the ?
our Of his death; and no where will :