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/ ========================================================================= USGenNet 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 USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Milwaukee Journal Thursday, November 22, 1945 Harbor Chief, Thorpe, Dead Ruled City Water Front With Moral Suasion for Many Years WILLIAM J. THORPE, 44, who ran the one man bureau of rivers and harbors for the city since 1934, was found dead in his apartment at 831 N. Prospect av. Wednesday night. THORPE'S death was discovered by police, who entered the apartment at the request of WILLIAM MARX of 518 N. Water st., a friend, who became worried when he was unable to reach THORPE by telephone. Death was due to natural causes, according to physicians at the county emergency hospital. THORPE, a rollicking Irishman, was widely known along Milwaukee's waterfront. It was often said, while THORPE was in charge, that the bureau of rivers and harbors had two offices -- one at 107 N. Water st., in the fire prevention bureau, and the other in the gray felt hat without which THORPE was rarely seen. It was in the hat that THORPE conducted most of the bureau's work. 12 Miles Daily Round THORPE was on the go most of the day. He did one hour of paper work in his office and then started on his daily rounds which took him over 12 miles of water front, the city hall and the federal building. Although THORPE had full police powers, including the authority to make arrests along the water front for violations of harbor regu- lations, he used to be quite proud of the fact that he had been obliged to make only one arrest in his years of office. That was the case of a ship captain who made fast to a protection piling on a bridge "Praise be," THORPE said at the time, "I wouldn't have made that one if it had not been on a complaint. THORPE operated successfully on the theory that arrests were not necessary to maintain the laws of the water front. "Most people just have to be told once or twice and you'll find they will obey after that," THORPE used to say. Son of Lake Captain THORPE was born in Throoptown, Ont. His father was a lake captain and one of his grand- fathers a lake captain before that. THORPE was only 21 when he received his captain's papers - one of the youngest captains on the lakes. THORPE moved to Milwaukee with his family in 1910. For seven years, until his death in 1930, the elder THORPE was captain of the S. S. Illinois, which one of THORPE'S uncles captained when it first sailed out of a shipyard at Charle- voix, Mich., in 1899. THORPE captained the old Illinois for one season. He succeeded CAPT. THOMAS GARRITY to the post of harbormaster after GARRITY had resigned. THORPE is survived by two brothers, PHILLIP, a lakes captain, and T. W. of Milwaukee; his mother, ELIZABETH, and a sister, MRS. MARION O'DONNELL of Milwaukee. MR. THORPE was an inspector and amateur boxing judge for the state athletic commission, and a member of the Chicago Patrolmen's club and of St. Jude's league. The body is at the Feerick funeral home, 4620 W. North av. ===========================================================================