Beggs, Thomas J., Captain

A telegram from Cleveland, Ohio, today brought the announcement of the death in that city of Captain Thomas J. Beggs, one of the best known vessel masters on the lakes.

Captain Beggs was born in this city about 55 years ago, the son of the late Captain David Beggs, who had commanded many lake schooners in and out of the port of Oswego before steam craft had developed to the present state of efficiency. As a boy Captain Tom Beggs attended the city schools and in the long summer vacations made trips on the lakes with his father until he became a thorough sailor man, though only a boy in years.

At the age of 19 he was mate with his father and before he was 21 he was sailing a lumber schooner out of Chicago. He went into steamboats shortly after and commanded several out of Chicago at which port his family made their residence for many years. His first large steamer was the Nico and then he sailed the Egyptian and others on the upper lakes.

Several years ago he went into the line of steel boats out of Cleveland, of which William E. Becker is the manager. Mr. Becker and Captain Beggs were classmates at the old Academy school, in West Third street. A year ago he was in command of the Donaldson, one of the finest 600-footers on the lakes. While on this boat a year ago last month he was stricken with paralysis and was taken off and sent to his home a helpless invalid.

For a time it was thought that he would get better, being of an unusually strong constitution, but his improvement was not as rapid as his friends had hoped for and the news of his death was not a surprise.

The remains will be brought to this city Friday morning. The funeral arrangements will be announced later but burial will be in the family plot in St. Paul' Cemetery. Mrs. Beggs was Miss Nellie McNeil, of this city. Besides the latter Captain Beggs is survived by a daughter and one brother, Captain David Beggs of the Wolvin line.