The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-09-22
FIRST TO SAIL TO SOUTHPORT
Former Kenosha Man Known as the
''Beau Brummel" Of the Lakes
Caught by Old Age and Illness TO
Go TO Poor House Soon.

Capt. e. K. Blodgett. one time one
of the most prominent men of Kenosha
and widely known among lake marine
men was adJudicated a pauper in the
municipal court Of Racine on Tuesday
afternoon and was sent to the poor
house of Racine county to spend the
remainder of his days. Captain Blod-
gett is now nearly so years Of age and
his trip to the poor house comes as the
strange ending of life which at times
gave promise of making him a very
wealthy man. Captain Blodgett was
nearly all his life a commander Of
boats on the lake and it was he who
sailed the first vessel into the old
Southport harbor and during his long
life on the lakes he owned sixteen YES
sells. Reversal of fortunes came several
times to Captain Blodgett but when
ever he lost his wealth he would 90
to work again and build up another
competence. Old age and discourage
ment finally put him down and out and
for some time he has been living alone
In an old hut in Racine and the au-
thorities of that city decided that the
best thing that could be done would be
to send the old man to the poor house.
Captain Blodgett was widely known
among the early pioneers of this city
and during his declining years he has
received help from some of these
friends OF olner days. IN the past few
years Captain Blodgett has been a help
less cripple from rheumatism but he
was too proud to consent to be taken
to the county house and it is claimed
that he has been living in the old hut
in Racine under conditions Of poverty
and squalor which were most revolving.
The condition of the old man was
brought to the notice of the public
some time ago when he hung out a
sign in front of his hut which read
8 I am starving here For some time
he was helped by the city of Racine
but his condition has recently become
so helpless that it was found necessary
either to take him to the poor house or
secure a. nurse to take care of him.
The old man made a hard fight
against being adjudged al pauper and
declared to the court that he was be-
ing prosecuted by his enemies. He de-
clared at one time that he would com
nit suicide rather than be sent to the
poor house.
In the early days when Captain Blod-
gett was the best known of the sailors
in Kenosha he was accustomed to ap-
pear at the wheel of his schooner clad
faultlessly in a Prince Albert coat and
wearing a tile hat. He was dubbed
the HBeau Brummel' Of the lakes and
this name chung to him long after he re-
tired from active service. Captain
Blodgett left 'Kenosha many years ago
but he had made frequent trips to this
city before he was crippled with rheu-
matism. In his final plea to the court
to keep out of the poor house he de-
clared, "No Blodgett has ever been an
inmate Of the poor house and God for
bid that | should be the first in the
line. =
The old man will not be taken to the
county house for a few days and it is
possible that in that time some of his
friends will raise little fund that
viii make it possible for him to spend
his declining years in some other in
stitution than the poor house.