Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== CAPTAIN JOHN VAN ALSTYNE Captain John Van Alsytne, who left the schooner W. I. Preston at Buffalo a few weeks ago, died at Oswego on the 26th of October, aged sixty- five years. He was suffering from kidney trouble, and rapidly grew worse after reaching home. Buffalo papers have the story of his sailor life about as follows: It began in 1836 when he shipped at Oswego as a cook on the schooner Eagle. In 1838 he was a sailor on the Robert Burns. In the fall of 1839 he went to New York and shipped on the brig Excelsior for Savannah. Remaining on the ocean till 1842, he returned to Oswego and went on the propeller Vandalla, the first screw steamer on fresh water. In 1844 he was mate of the schooner Josephine, and in 1845 he took command of his first vessel, the Morselle. After that he successively sailed the Moses and Elias, Josephine, Odd Fellow, Hungarian, Monitor, Emau, G. C. Finney, and in 1872 the W. I. Preston, on which he remained till a few days ago. In 1854 he lost the only vessel in his long career, the Odd Fellow, being driven on the North Manitou in a snow storm and totally destroyed. In 1855 he handled a tug at Oswego, and was customs inspector for three years from 1858. From 1860 to 1872 he commanded a variety store in Oswego. It is stated that Captain Van Alstyne never used a barometer, a spirit compass or patent log. He always relied on his judgment and seldom made a mistake. He held the office of justice of the peace at Oswego when he died. SOURCE: The Marine Record, Cleveland, OH, 3 Nov 1887, page 4