Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-17
CAPT. WHISTLER,
VETERAN RIVER
PILOT is CALLED
Paralytic Stroke, Second in Two
Years, Causes Death of
Rock Islander.
ON MISSISSIPPI 46 YEARS
Was Active Until Year Ago When
His Health Failed Him and Com
PEELED Retirement.

Captain W. II. whistler, one of the
veteran pilots on the Mississippi ana
actively engaged on the river for the
past As years up until one year ago,
died yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock
from a stroke Of paralysis which he
suffered Friday. The veteran sustain
ed stroke two years ago and had
been in declining health ever since.
Old river men all along the river from
st. Louis TO St Paul and his many
friends in the tri-cities will learn with
deep sorrow OF his death.
Captain Whistler was born June q,
1s47. in Morrow county. Ohio, coming
west when eight years Of age
with his parents, who located at Al
bany, ILL.,, where he grew to manhood.
The Mississippi with it's trafic. which
was in those days at its height, proved
a great attraction for him and at the
age OF Is, he embarked on his river
career as "raftsman." In those days
the RATS we're not towed but we're
carried down stream by the current,
being controlled by a long oar, or
which was known as sweep"
When he first commenced his duties
as raftsmau he was obliged TO do the
hard work with the sweep" but he
was not long at the oar, however, as
he soon was given charge Of RATS
which he handled in a most capable
manner from the start
MAKES FIRST TRIP IN 1855.
He made his first trip out in the year
1865. when he boarded the old North
ern Line steamer, Sucker State. The
first raft on which theveteran pilot ever
came down the river was bound for
the lower river. II got as far as
Montrose, where It was tied up owing
to the fact that the water on the
Keokuk rapids was too low TO safely
negotiate.
WITH w. & ID. FOR II SEASONS.
In the year 1871, six years after he
had started in rafting. he received
his first masters papers. after which
he went aboard the steamer Hart
ford" The following year he entered
the employ Of Ex-Governor Sam Van
SAINT. for whom he worked OF and on
until he was employed by Weyerhaus-
or & Denkmann in the year 1881. with
whom he remained for 81 seasons.
Captain Whistler was noted for the
big RATS which he frequently brought
from northern points. The largest
raft he ever brought down the river
was 1922 feet in length and POS feet
in width. No instance is ever record
ed OF him having a mishap In getting
the large RATS through the bridges
II is a fact easily understood that get
ting a large raft through a bridge
Is no easy matter. Captain Whistler
owas noted for the clever manner IN
which he used to split" the big RATS
and get the logs through without 6
mishap.
TAKES FIRST BOAT THOUGH LOCKS
The 46 years that Captain Whistler
had been on the river we're frRugh
with stirring incidents and interesting
detail One instance worthy OF note
Is that he was the first pilot TO taky
boat through the three locks and thu
canal from south TO north, over the
Keoruk rapids.
Captain Whistler was united in mar
rage March 80, 1870. to Nora Hart,
nett at Albany. III. He is survived
by his widow and two daughters. Mrs
Louisa V. Shelton of Chicago, and Mrs
George Fitzgibbon Of Moline.
Private funeral services will be hell
Tuesday afternoon at o'clock at tn,
Knox chapel. II is requested that NJ
flowers be sent. The body will b.