Historic Pelham Blog Archive
October 6, 2009

350TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BOOK:  "THOMAS PELL AND THE LEGEND OF THE PELL TREATY OAK" -- $11.95 (PROCEEDS AFTER PRINTING COSTS WILL GO TO BARTOW-PELL MANSION MUSEUM).  CLICK HERE TO BROWSE BEFORE YOU BUY! LEARN MORE.

William B. Astor, Jr. (July 12, 1830 - April 25, 1897) was a grandson of John Jacob Astor.  He inherited a substantial portion of the family fortune.  During the 1880s he had a steam yacht named the Nourmahal.  The Captain of that yacht for a time was Samuel Freestone of Bartow-on-the-Sound, a hamlet located in the Town of Pelham.  On October 8, 1888, Captain Freestone was overcome by gas from the coal used on the yacht and subsequently died at his home in Bartow-on-the-Sound.  A brief article appeared in The New York Times.  It read as follows:

"SUDDEN DEATH ON A YACHT.

Capt. Samuel Freestone, in command of William B. Astor's steam yacht Nourmahal, died suddenly at Bartow-on-the-Sound, N.Y., yesterday morning from apoplexy, resulting, it is said, from inhaling gas from the coal used on the yacht.  Capt. Freestone was found in a state of asphyxia on the yacht and taken home, but medical aid failed to rally him.  He was a fine seaman, and was brought to this country from England by Mr. Astor.  He was a member of Pelham Lodge, No. 712, F. and A.M., and will be buried with Masonic honors."

Source:  Sudden Death on a Yacht, N.Y. Times, Oct. 9, 1888, at p. 8.

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posted by Blake A. Bell @ 4:29 AM Comment

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