Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2018 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. =========================================================================== Chicago Tribune Sunday, May 17, 1885 BEN EYSTER IS DEAD. THE VETERAN LAKE CAPTAIN FOUND IN THE LAKE. The body of BENJAMIN EYSTER, and old lake Captain and one of the best-known characters about town, was found in the Illinois Central Slip on the lake-front yesterday afternoon about 6 o'clock by the watchman at the station. The body presented the appearance of having been in the water only a short time. The police were notified and the body removed to the morgue. No one had noticed him on the pier during the day, but he was identified by an old sailor who had known him for years. BENJAMIN EYSTER came to Chicago in 1859, and in 1863 he purchased the schooner Butts, which he sailed on the lakes un- til 1867, when he bought the schooner Cape Horn. It was on this vessel that he got his reputation of being a good Captain and a jolly fellow. About this time he married his first wife, from whom he was afterwards divorced, and who is still living. In 1868 he got into a quarrel with a tug-boat Captain named PHIL PHIFER, about a bill for tug- boat service, in a saloon on Randolph street, between La Salle and Fifth avenue. The saloon- keeper told them to leave the room, and they went out on the sidewalk. PHIFER hit EYSTER with his fist, whereupon EYSTER pulled his revolver and shot PHIFER in the stomach, inflicting a serious wound, from the effects of which he subsequently died. EYSTER was exonerated by the jury. Soon after this the Cape Horn was run into by the propeller Java near Long Point and wrecked, only CAPT. EYSTER and three seamen escaping. In 1881 he lived on Franklin street and became engaged in a quarrel with a hackman named JOHN SCHUMACHER who occupied the barn in the rear of EYSTER'S house, about the right of way through an alley. One evening about dusk SCHUMACHER drove into the alley, when he was accosted by EYSTER, and some angry words were ex- changed. SCHUMACHER drove his hack into the barn and EYSTER returned to his house, where he procured his revolver and followed SCHUMACHER to the barn, calling for him to come out. SCHUMACHER appeared at the door with a pitchfork in his hand, when EYSTER shot him in the neck, killing him instantly. He was indicted by the grand jury and sentenced to fourteen years, but a new trial was granted. The new jury disagreed, and EYSTER was finally set free. The two murders and his other troubles occasioned the loss of his property, and to this was added trouble with a second wife who sued him for divorce, which was granted on the ground of cruelty. EYSTER then turned his attention to other matters, and for a time was engaged in the patenting and manufactur- ing of an appliance for raising and holding grain- car doors. His partner in this and the man who furnished the money was D. J. VAN SCHAACK, a tug- owner. The patent was not a success. Last fall EYSTER was taken sick with asthma and lung troubles. He lived at that time and during the winter at the New York House, at No. 239 to 243 Randolph street. In February he became so ill that he was advised by the proprietor to go to the County Hospital, which he did. He remained there about six weeks, and on coming out became agent for some history of the United States. He was as unsuccessful at this as at everything which he undertook in his later years. He drifted around from place to place, and during the last few weeks has been nursing an old friend who was sick on Lake street just west of the bridge, sleeping during the day and sitting up nights. He became a heavy drinker during the last years of his life and was frequently run in by the police and given a chance to get sober. No one, however, ever made any charge against him, and he was invariably let go with a promise of doing better in the future. The last time this occurred was Friday night. During the early evening he was in the saloon kept by McGuire at the corner of Market and Lake streets, where he ordered and paid for several drinks. He became pretty well intoxicated and regaled a circle of friends with an account of his various experiences on land and water. Later in the evening he was taken to the Harri- son Street Station in the patrol-wagon and kept there until noon yesterday, when he was allowed as usual to depart. He immediately went to McGuire's saloon, reaching there between 12 and 1 o'clock, and took several drinks, which he paid for. This was the last seen of him until his body was found in the water. He either had wandered down to the lake in a drunken stu- por and accidentally fell in, or, having become dis- couraged by his many troubles, his loss of property and seperation from his wife, felt that it was better to end his life. His first wife is at present living on Chestnut street, where she keeps a boarding house. His second wife lives on Washington boulevard. His father is a well-to-do farmer living near Oregon, Ill. A dispatch as sent to R. J. PRENTICE, a brother-in-law living in Oregon, last night stating the particulars of the supposed suicide. =========================================================================== 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/ ===========================================================================