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The Death of Capt. Henry Bailey, 1919
Yukon & Alaska Pioneer Biographies
The Yukon Sternwheeler Nasutlin
The Weekly Star, Friday, November 21, 1919
Capt. Henry Bailey of the White Pass steamer Nasutlin died at Mayo Landing on the Stewart river on October 27 from stomach trouble, with which he had been suffering for a number of years. The body was taken to Dawson overland and will be shipped to Seattle for burial. He was 63 years of age and leaves a wife, three sons and one daughter to mourn his loss. The family home is in Ballard, Wash.
Deceased was one of the pioneer steamboatmen of the Upper Yukon river and for 3 years has been one of the most valued employes of the White Pass company. During the season just closed he was in command of the steamer Nasutlin and made several voyages in that vessel up the Stewart river with supplies for the new silver-lead mining camp in the Mayo district. On the last trip the Nasutlin got caught in the early freeze-up and had to go into winter quarters at Mayo Landing.
The crew of the Nasutlin, with the exception of Capt. Bailey, who then had been seriously ill for nearly two weeks and was unable to travel, set out for Dawson across country by the overland trail, reaching there in time to catch the last up-river boat to Whitehorse.
Capt. Bailey was one of the most genial and companionable of men, made friends of all with whom he came in contact, and it will be with feelings of deepest sorrow that they will hear of his untimely passing away.
The following is a chronological aceount of Captain Bailey's activities from the summer of 1898 until the close of navigation, 1919:
1898, master of steamer Phillip B. Low, lower Yukon river.
1899, pilot of steamer Eldorado, upper Yukon river.
1900, pilot of steamer Sybil, upper Yukon river,
1901-2, pilot of steamers Ora and Thistle. upper Yukon river.
1903, master of steamer Casca, upper Yukon river.
1904, master of Columbia river steamers, Eastern Washington.
1905, pilot of steamer Schwatka, lower Yukon river.
1908-7, master of Columbia river steamers, Eastern Washington.
1908-9-10, master of steamer Tonsina, Copper river, South-western Alaska.
1911-12, master of Columbia river steamer, Eastern Washington.
1913-14-15-16, master of steamers Norcom and Vidette of Sidestreams Navigation Co., Dawson.
1917-18-19, master of steamers Selkirk and Nasutlin, upper Yukon river.
The Weekly Star, Friday, December 5, 1919
The remains of Capt. Henry Bailey of the steamer Nasutlin, who died the latter part of October at Mayo Landing, on the upper Stewart river, will reach here tomorrow from Dawson en route to the family home at Ballard, Wash., for interment.
The Weekly Star, Friday, December 12, 1919
The remains of the late Captain Henry Bailey of the steamer Nasutlin reached Whitehorse from Dawson Friday and Tuesday morning left here in charge of Port Steward I. Mellveen of the White Pass for Seattle, where they will be turned over to the deceased's family for burial.
The Dawson News of Noy. 27 in speaking of the shipment of the body from that city, said: "The captain died at Mayo October 27. Oscar Letourneau, who brought the remains over the trail to Dawson, says that everything possible was done for the comfort of the captain during his illness there. Dr. D. R. McLennan was with the patient day and night. Mr. Letourneau and others also rendered every possiible assistance. The captain was at Mr. Letourneau's place seventeen days, which was from the time of his arrival there with the steamer Nasutlin until the end.
"By the time the remains reach their destination in Seattle they will have traveled over 1,500 miles, including 155 over the trail, from Mayo to Dawson; 365 miles over the trail from Dawson to Whitehorse: thence 110 miles by train to Skagway: thence 1,000 miles by steamer down the coast."
Capt. Henry Bailey was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Seattle on December 19, 1919. See his Find a Grave memorial here.
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