Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1920-09-16
FINAL PORT FOR
CAPTAIN MCDOWELL
Beautiful Tribute Paid To
Memory Of Good Man
By His Friends

Captain John A. Mcdowell died
on Thursday morning, September
8, in Tacoma hospital after a
long painful illness, during which
every effort known to medical
science was used in the hope to
effect cure.
He was born on November s,
1881, in Philadelphia, Penn, of
Scotch parentage, and came with
his father and mother to the Puget
Sound country in 1889.
His father, Mathew Mcdowell,
was one of the most practical and
efficient steamboat men in the
country, and his sons naturally
grew up thoroughly conversant
with every phase of steamboat
business.
John began his steamboat ca
reer as a mere boy on the steamer
Dauntless, which the pioneers will
remember as plying regularly be-
tween Tacoma and Seattle, and
calling at the island docks during
the nineties. when John, a chubby
faced boy, was favorite with all
who knew him, because of his
sunny smile and readiness to lend
helping hand to any one who
needed it.
Strong and sturdy, with the
cheerful disposition of his mother.
and the forcefulness of his father,
he babe in those days to live
long and useful life.
After the Dnumtless, his father
built and owned in succession the
steamers Defiance, Dart, Daring,
and Daily, and John filled the
position of deck hand, purser,
pilot and captain on them until
he became as well known as the
steamers, and maintained, what
will always be remembered by
those who were 50 fortunate as to
have enjoyed it, as the most ac-
commodating and efficient boat
service known to Vashon and
Maury islands.
Those days are now referred to
as, "the good old days when the
Mcdowell boats were running,
and our clocks could be set by
Captain Johns whistle" The
weather was never too stormy or
the fogs too thick to prevent the
faithful pilot from safely docking
his steamer, and landing his pass
engers and freight.
His boyhood's readiness to lend
a helping hand remained with
him. He was faithful to his
friends, generous to a fault, and
quick to forgive an injury or I'M
kindness; for the life of a sailor
such as he was, is crossed with
every phase of human nature,
which is often uncharitable and
thanllless and thoughtless of men
to whom it entruSts lives and
property, yet Captain John retain
ed jovial good nature to the last,
He was a good friend to our
islands, and the memory of his
ready smile and many kind acts
will long be cherished by his old
friends along the water front.
After the Mcdowell boats were
withdrawn from this run, Cap
tain John served on other steam
ers as pilot and captain, but the
greater part of his life was
spent in service for these islands
and the waters of the East Pass
was his home.
He leaves to mourn his loss, his
wife and two sons, Stanley and
Kenneth, who are high school
students in Tacoma his father and
mother of Caledonia, two brothers
George Mcdowell of Gig Harbor,
and Robert who is now at South
Bend, and a sister, Mrs. A. II.
Thompson of Seattle, all Of whom
have the sincere sympathy Of
hosts of friends wherever they
are known.
He was a member of Mark d.
Waterman Lodge No. 1T +. and
A. NJ, and of the Masters Mates
and Pilots Association.
His funeral was largely attend
ed by his old boat friends and
associates. Rev. C. W, Weyer of
the First Presbyterian church of
Tacoma officiated, assisted by his
masons' impressive masonic burial