Seward daily gateway., 1933-03-04
STEVE MELCH|OR PIONEER 0F SEWARD
 DIED EARLY TODAY
I'M GOING HOME TO MOTHER" WERE LAST WORDS UTTER
 ED TO PRIEST

Again the hand of the Grim Reaper descended during the night in Seward, this time to clutch Steve Melchior, 84 years old, a pioneer resident of Seward and an Alaskan since the days of 1896 when he sailed his own vessel to these shores from Puget Sound
 Steve, as he was affectionately called by his many friends, had been in poor health for some years past but not until about three years ago did it appear that the aged oldtimer was on the downward path; Steve thought the trouble was his stomach but it was his heart.
 MT. Melchior died at 4:15 this morning at the home of MT. and Mrs Fred Keilcheski who, assisted by friends, had been taking care of Steve for a number of weeks. Father O'Flannigan, a constant attendant and who comforted Steve during the trying hours, said that Steve had taken a turn for the worse Thursday and last night appeared to be sinking. pr. 4. D. Haverstock, of the Seward Gen. eral Hospital, stated last night that he doubted if Mir. Melchior would survive the night. His heart action was gradually becoming weaker. and circulation extremely poor LOVED THE OUTDOORS
 MT. Melchior was born in Ger many and came to America 3. highly skilled wood-worker and mechanic. For years he was em- ployed in the main plant of the Pullman Car Co.,, under the per- sonal supervision of MT. Pullman. After coming North he devoted his time to mining in the Kenai Pen lnSula area and, until a few years ago, spent considerable time each year on placer claims in the lower Kenai Lake region A lover of the outdoors, it is said there is hardly a spot on this vast peninSu- Ia that Steve had not visited. For days, weeks and even entire sum mers, he would set off alone and roam thru the hills and valleys. many of his blazed trails have often led others out of the wilder ness to a haven of refuge.
 Born near Trier, Germany in 1848, MT. Melchoir grew to stalwart manhood there; he served in the Franco-PrusSian War of 1871 in which he received thigh wound, bullet piercing hs right leg. After the war he worked as millWright and mechanic in Belgium and France and for about two. years with a large German shipping concern as an engineer. During this latter service he visited Africa, India and China.
 CONSCIOUS. TO THE END
 MT Melchior came to America nearly 60 years ago and settled at Denver where he married. He then moved about the States working at his trade, and also lived for awhile in British Columba.
 A son, John, died about 25 years ago; surviving him are a son and daughter and relative in St. Paul. The son, Frank, an American vet eran of the World War, is believed to be somewhere in the East. 4 daughter, Billie, Mrs. Stevens, re- sides in Seattle. A distant relative lives in St. Paul, while a cousin Is said to be in Pasadena, California. Pending communication with rela- tiveS, no funeral announcement can be given today but it is believ- ed interment will be made next week in the Seward Cemetery. Steve was perfectly conscious l and in no pain at the end and his last words, Inurmured to Father Robert O'Flannigan, and in Ger man, were: I'm going home to mother"