The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-07-17
Hancock Department
CAPT. WH|TTLF
DIES SUDDENLY
CHIEF MINING CAPTAIN OF ouIN.
cY MINING CO. EXPIRES SUM-
DAY AT HOME IN EAST
ANcock.

HANG COCK.
For the third time I'm less than that
many months the hand of death has
reached forth and suddenly seized from
the midst of family and friends an
other well known and prominent cti-
zen of the community. Captain Thorn
as Whttle. chief mining captain of
the Quincy Mining company, passed
away suddenly yesterday afternoon, at
about / o'clock, at his home in East
Hancock. from the effects of an attack
of pneumonia combined with heart
trouble. Captain Whites trouble had
been of comparatively short duration
and no serious consequences had
been anticipated, he having been
cheerful and active up TO the very last
He was to have been one of the
speakers at the anniversary platform
meeting at the Pewabic Methodist
Episcopal church yesterday afternoon.
and the announcement of his death,
opened was severe shock to those
present, to all of whom Clpt. Whittle
was wen known, having been one of
the leading members of the church for
years.
Captain Whites Career.
Captain Whittle was born on Jan
uary /, 1S45 at Mthiln, Cornwall,
England, and began at an early age to
work in the Cornwall mines. The ext
gencies and surroundings of his youth
full life made il impossible for him to
gain any educational advantages but
with indomitable energy and resolu-
ton he supplied all deficiencies later
In life which enabled him To stand on
the same plane with others having col
fcgiate training.
In the early EOS Captain Whittle
went to South America, where he first
engaged in copper mining in the up
of Chanaral, Chile. There he spent five
years and then came to the Lake SUI
perior copper mining regions, settling
at Hancock. His first work was with
the Quincy Mining company in 1877.
1t was in 1880 that he accepted the po-
sition of assistant mining captain un-
der Captain John Cliff, and when he
went to the Pewabic Mining company
in 1882 1t was as chief mining captain.
The Pewabic mine was purchased
about eighteen years ago by the Quin-
cy. Captain Whittle was connected
with the Huron mine for five years.
from 1885 TO 1889, his association with
Captain Johnson Vivian continuing
seven years. In 1883 he was requested
to accept the position of chief mining
pany At that time the quincy was
only about one eighth its present size
or capacity. the output since then hav-
ing been greatly increased. stamp mills
and new smelters erected, and also
new shaft houses built.
Captain Whittie a few years ago suf-
fercd from III health which led him to
tender his resignation. which the COM
pany refused to accept, granting him.
however, an extended leave of absence
during which he took trip of sew
eral months to England. returning
greatly improved, and since then he
has been able to attend to his du-
ties. In politics he was a staunch Re-
publican and has most acceptably
served as justice of the peace, school
trustee and in other township offices.
For over forty years Captain Whit
tie had been member OF the Metho-
dist Episcopal church. lie joined the
church when young man in Eng
land and on coming to Hancock afiili-
atcd with the Pewabic church of the
Methodist denomination. lie served re-
peatedly upon its official board having
been reelected a trustee only last week
although since erecting his new resi-
dence in East Hancock a few years ago
he had affiliated with the Hancock
Methodist church. He was also trus-
tee of the latter church, giving him the
unique distinction of being an official of
two churches at the same time.
Captain whttle was twice married,
his first wife being Jane Ennor from
his native locality, who died some
years ago. leaving seven children.
About seven years ago Captain Whit
tie married Mrs. Lila Sobey of this
city. The surviving children of Captain
white are william II. bookkeeper of
the Painesdalc store; Mrs John f.
Ryan of Hancock. Alice, wife of John
Jefrreyn cashier of the Superior Ma
tional Bank of Hancock; Mrs. Henry
Hatton of Hancock; Mrs. Bert Potter
Hancock: Lima May a student at De-
troit and Melvin, who is now living I'm
South Dakota.