The Alaska daily empire., 1916-01-14
BROKEN IN HEALTH,
 JUNEAU COUPLE
 LEAVING FOR SOUTH

will go to Portland to the. home or their son, P. E. Stowell, who arrived on the northbound trip of the lief. ferson to take his aged parents south.
 That is Q simple newspaper state ment. But to Mir. and Mrs Stowell and scores of friends and hundreds of others who have come Tn touch with the couple. there is another mean ing
 After forty years in the service of the United States surveyors office, George Stowell. has perhaps. left the office on his farewell trip. After nearly twenty years spent in Alaska, having practically organized the sur veyor's office at Sitka. then being transferred here. when Juneau be- came the capital. having devoted the greater part of his life in the north, he is going south to regain, 1t is hoped his health. Accompanied by his partner, through all of his life's struggles. his ups and downs; through health and advers.ty the woman who shared his all; he is taking her south also for her health. With her the situation is different.
 Mrs. stowell Very lll
 There was decided hush last night at the Jefferson when six stalwart men went aboard the steamer, care fully carrying on Q stretcher Q frail little body of a woman. Tender)y she was lifted from the stretcher by gentle hands to berth In large stateroom. Loving hands placed the pillows in just that position which would insure comfort.
 There was something about the en- tire occasion that was like the part Ing of the ways. Mrs. Stowell has been m for long time. For tho past seven months her eyesight has been gone. She. the little patient woman. has only been able to distinguish light and darkness. She believes she will come back to the land where she spent the greater portion of her life. The doctor has his opinion. The many friends of the well known wo- man have their opinions also. The Divine being who holds the destiny of all In his hand. is the only one who knows.
 As Mrs. Stowell was carried aboard the steamer, friends assisted Mir. Sto- well from the auto to the stateroom. The husband has also been III. That s the reason the son came north to take mother and father to his home and nurse them, if possible back to health. The son knows and believes what the doctors know. He has fath- omed the mystery. He with the oth- CTS Of the family, know. They are only hoping for the best.
 Two noble characters have left AL aska; their return is doubtful
 Their Sister Dies
 Strange as 1t may seem. just before the steamer left, a message was hand ed the son. His aunt, the sister of the father. had passed to that great beyond. His mother will perhaps never be told, and perhaps the father will never know. Anyway the son VII keep the sad news from him dur ing the trip south and until he is bet ter.
 One of Mir. and Mrs. stowelrs daughters is the wife of Major C. G. Andresen. U. S. M C.. stationed at Manila.
 Today there is sadness among the employees at the surveyors office. The man who has been Identified with the office for so many years, thief clerk. draughtsman and lately ID neral clerk. his chair Is vacant. Ev- cry member of the force were at the lock last night and cheerily spoke words they 'id not believe.
 Rev. Stevens Tribute
 Rev J. B. Stevens, said to The Elm pire today: "The departure of Mir, and Mrs. Stowell will be koenly felt by their many friends and 1t marks a distinct loss to the community. Dur ing all their years of residence in Alaska they were active in all move ments of social interest and no time nor strength was too great to give to insure the successes of any cause that had their sympathy.
 Nowhere will their absence be more conspicuous or the memory Of the'r presence and service be longer or more kindly remembered than in the Northern Light Presbyterian church. Mir. Stowell was an elder in the church here and also at Sitka. Kindly spirited and sympathetic, slow of censure and wise in his counsel, he was particularly fitted to fill the position to which the congregation in their confidence elected him.
 For many years, also. he served as church treasurer; his care and ability doing much towards putting the church in its present position of strength and efficiency.
 Mrs. Stowell was quite as active in other departments of the church work. Shortly after coming to Alas ka she organized the first mission ary society at Sitka. She has filled all the offices of the Ladies' Aid so- ciety and was one of the first with practical help Tn time of need.
 Both MT. and Mrs. Stowell belong to that fine type of Christian breadth however, whose lives commend their faith to men of every creed"
 NORTHWESTERN IN TODAY
 The steamer Northwestern is ey- pected in Juneau late this afternoon.