The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1920-01-17
GEORGE WING SWIFT
PASSES AWAY IN b. C.

The subjoined clipping from the
Nelson, B. C. Daily News, recounts
the circumstances of the last days
and death of an old time Colville
valley citizen who was held in high
esteem among all his acquaintance
here over 80 years ago. 1t follows
"The death occurred on Saturday
evening at Kootenay Lake General
hospital of George Wing Swift bet
ter known to his large circle of
friends in Nelson and district as
"Jack" Swift.
. "The late Mr.. Swift who had resided
on the north shore of the lake for
the past 10 years had been in poor
health for some time and only enter
ed the hospital about week ago. He
was SO years of age.
"The late Mr.. Swift was native of
the New England states where he
early entered the sailing vocation out
of the port of New Bedford. He
came to the Pacific coast some 40
years ago by the Cape Horn route
and upon his arrival in the west he
sailed the Pacific coast in the capa-
city of first mate. In the early days
of navigation on the Columbia river
he was engaged in the transport SER
vice there and it was here that he
became associated with the late Capt.
]. c. Gore, who was afterwards su-
perintendent of the British Columbia
inland lake and river service of the
c. p. r.
Upon leaving the Columbia river
district Mr. Swift spent some years
ranching in the Colville valley of the
state of Washington but again re-
sponded to the lure Of the water by
becoming engaged in steamboating
on the kootenay lakes together with
Capt. w. West and Capt. Allan Lean.
After retiring from this business he
settled down on the north shore of
the lake.
He is survived by a brother and
sister in Marion, Mass"
George w. Swift was man of
fine family, said to be related with
in the Bird degree to the Swifts, we'll
known in the packing business in
Chicago, of national fame. His i'm
mediate relatives were defendants OF
the first or pilgrim settlers in Mas
sachusetts. He was endowed with
fine education fitting him for sea
service, and was early an ocean trav-
eler. He came west around Cape
Horn in 1872 and engaged in the
guano trade in the South seas and
explored extensively the coasts OF
nearly all the Countries Of South
America. By reason of his special
aptitude in the arts of navigation he
was quickly promoted to second Off
Ger on his ship, and when he came
to San Francisco he was invited to
take a similar position with the Pa
cifc Coast Steamship Co. and for
number of years was in their service
on vessels serving the ports of Ore
gon, Washington, British Columbia
and Alaska Unfortunately he lost
an eye in his coastwise activities and
was obliged to give up his position
at Portland where he became ac-
uuainted with the river captains and
quickly found favor. Captain Gore
engaged him for the upper Columbia
river service in 1885. His affliction
bore heavily upon him and from time
to time he was obliged to rest from
his duties and while on a vacation,
in 1885, he took up ranch on the
Colville river half way between Ar
den and Addy where he lived between
1885 and 1896 when he rturned to
Kootenay lakes where he spent the
last "a years of his life, his last en-
ployment being care taker for the
summer home of Mrs. M. r. Nc
Quarrie, wife of the former mayor
of Nelson. 1t was here that Mrs.
Ingraham, formerly Miss Susie Nc
Chung, who once lived in Colville,
while visiting at the McQuarrie
home, discovered Swift and took an
interest in him through his last ill
ness; otherwise his passing would
have been unknown to his friends
and people. In letter to former
senator Mcmillan, Mrs. Ingraham
says: 81 had been noticing familiar
features in his appearance and
thought | could remember having
seen that face somewhere. Though
engaged in mental employments he
was of respectable and pleasing adj
dress and quickly discovered an
old time acquaintance. His delight
was to inquire about all his old Col,
vile valley friends among whom, he
said, he spent the happiest days OF
his life"
Mr.. Swift was about-70 years OF
age and unmarried. He was YER
satile thinker and keen of observa'
ton, and his tales of experiences
both on sea and on land, had he beer