Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== History of the Great Lakes Illustrated, In Two Volumes, Vol. II Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1899 [204] CAPTAIN F. FOUNTAIN, captain of the old Chicago life saving station, located at Central Pier, No. 1, at the mouth of the Chicago river, has been in charge of this important station since 1894. The work during the summer months is confined chiefly to small craft, while in the spring and fall larger wrecks frequently occur. The station was established many years ago, and was re- modeled about 1875. For many years it was in charge of CAPTAIN ST. PETER, and during that time over 700 lives were saved. During the regime of CAPTAIN FOUNTAIN about 200 have been rescued. The station is well equipped; the crew con- sists of eight men, and the season lasts for eight months and ten days. There are two lifeboats, two surfboats and one Whitehall boat, eighteen feet in length, and used for short runs; and an English lifeboat which was received at the sta- tion in the fall of 1898. It is one of the finest boats in the service, and is longer by eight feet than the English lifeboats formerly used, has more metal in her keel, and is therefore harder to capsize; it is equipped with a center- board and has superior sailing qualities. CAPTAIN FOUNTAIN has been in the lifesaving service for over ten years. He was born at Two Rivers, Wis., in 1869, and is the son of ADOLPH and ALID GAUTHIER FOUNTAIN. ADOLPH FOUNTAIN is a native of Canada, and came to Two Rivers, Wis., in 1847. He is a cooper by trade, but also engaged extensively in fishing. He is at present a resident of Sheboygan, Wis. The Captain was reared and educated at Two Rivers, and busied himself in his youth with fishing. In 1888, while yet a boy of nineteen years, he entered the life-saving service as a surfman at the Racine station. He was thence transferred to Milwaukee, and thence to Grand Haven. In 1892 he became a member of CAPTAIN ST. PETER'S crew at Jackson Park, Chicago, and in 1893 went with CAPTAIN ST. PETER to Ludington, Mich., returning to Jackson Park in 1894. In September of that year he was appointed to his pre- sent charge. In 1895, in Ludington, Mich., he was married to Miss LOUISA HUTT, and to them has been born one child, GEORGE. CAPTAIN FOUNTAIN has won his promotion by faithfulness and ability, and is one of the well known life-saving service men on the lakes. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================