Captain Lewis Kates
Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 6 November 1869, page 7
PORT ITEMS
Captain Lew Kates, of the famous Louisville and New Orleans steamer Nick Longworth, is in the city.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 23 March 1870, page 7
PORT ITEMS
Captain Lew Kates was advised by dispatch from Pink Varble, yesterday, that there would be sufficient water on the falls to allow the Longworth to pass over tomorrow. The Longworth consequently laid over here and will depart for New Orleans from the foot of Vine street today at 5 pm. A number of our citizens with their families will take passage on the Longworth on a pleasure trip to New Orleans and return.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 19 April 1870, page 7
PORT ITEMS
The Nick Longworth will Louisville for New Orleans tomorrow, as we learn by a dispatch to Captain E E Bowers, her first clerk, who is here on a visit to his family. Passengers south by today's mail boats and tomorrow mornings trains will connect with the Longworth.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 13 July 1870, page 7
PORT ITEMS
Captain Lew Kates, the well known and popular commander of the Louisville and New Orleans packet Nick Longworth, was in the city yesterday, and returned fro Louisville last evening. The Longworth is being repainted and refitted and will resume business in about two weeks.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 27 July 1871, page 7
NEWS FROM OTHER FORTS
The Louisville Ledger of yesterday says; "Captain L Kates, of the Nick Longworth, is in the city. A sharper, impersonating Captain Kates, walked into a clothing store, some days since, and selecting what clothing he wanted, said he would take the linen, as he was about to enjoy the luxury of a bath, and the remainder of the purchase could be sent to the boat with the bill. the clothing man insisted upon the counterfeit Captain taking along the entire purchase, "It would be all right" The wish was complied with since when there has been no settlement of the account.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 December 1877, page 7
BURNING OF THE LOTUS
Contrary to the first telegraph reports, written by the way were signed by J J Dodd, chief clerk and part owner of the boat, the burning of the steamer Louis was very disastrous to life as the latest accounts since that less less than twelve of her crew perished, either by fire or water. Among the number was Mate Henry Loper, a resident of this city and the nephew of Captain Lew Kates of the Thos Sherlock. Mr. Loper was mate of the Thos Sherlock last season and leaves a young wife to mourn his loss. he was a young man highly respected.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 March 1879, page 7
NEWPORT
There is now on exhibition at Mr. Smith's paper store, on York street, some of the most artistic pastry work, perhaps ever exhibited in this city. They were presented to the Committee having charge of the entertainment and supper, to be given this evening and tomorrow at Odd Fellows hall, for the benefit of the new Christian Church.
The following are the donors: Mr. Gus Hounshall, clerk of the steamer Bostona; Captain O P Shinkle, of the Golden Rule; Captain J Shinkle of the steamer Clinton; Captain R W Wise, of the steamer James W Gaff; Captain John Thornburg of the steamer W P Thompson; Captain H J Vinton of the steamer Andy Baum; Captain J C Powers of the steamer Wildwood; Captain Dan Powers of the steamer Robert Mitchell; Captain Lew Kates of the steamer Thomas Sherlock and from the Captain and clerk of the steamer Potomac.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 June 1889, page 7
WAR DEPARTMENT SIGNAL SERVICE REPORT
The elegant side-wheel steamer New Mary Houston leaves for New Orleans Tuesday next. Her accommodations are of the best, and she is in charge of clever and competent officers. Captain Lew Kates is her veteran commander and James S Alexander her clever chief clerk.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 January 1892, page 8
ALLS WELL WITH THE MARY HOUSTON
The steamer Mary Houston which broke loose from her moorings at the foot of Sycamore street and went adrift, was again moored to the Cincinnati shore at 9 o'clock yesterday morning. She was towed up by the propeller Hercules Carrell from Flemings Landing, where she lay all Saturday night on account of the danger attending a passage through bridges in the darkness and fog.
The passage up from Petersburg was necessarily a slow one, as the engines of the big boat were not working and it was feared that the great strain on the rescued vessel might spring open partially opened leaks. When the sturdy little Carrell came through the Suspension Bridge with her big consort the bridge, wharf boats and levee were crowded with curious spectators, who welcomed them with cheers. The two boats slowly forged up.
During the perious ride, Captain Kates was as cool as though danger and death were far away, and much credit is due him for the boat's escape from danger. The intense darkness that prevailed made the situation all the more dangerous and all night long the men aboard were in ignorance to their whereabouts. When morning dawned with Lawrenceburg in sight, every one aboard was surprised, as all believed that they were at least near Madison, if not further now the stream.
Captain Kates, in conversation with an Enquirer reporter, said that at not time after he came on deck, shortly after the boat broke loose, could their location be accurately determined. Steam could not be got up on account of the chimneys being down, but even had this not been the case, it would have taken five hours to get up steam enough to control the boat. her steering apparatus being rendered useless, nothing could be done except to wait for morning and help.
"I believe" remarked Captain Kates, "that the cause of the whole trouble was a log fail which struck the wharf boat, causing her shore chains to part. No, we saw no logs but the drift was running pretty heavy, and it must have been that which caused the trouble. This is the most serious trouble I was ever in and no man was ever drowned from any boat of which I was master. You can easily imagine what a strong current was running when those big heavy chains were torn away by the anchors. The grate bars were not heavy, though. I remember a case on the Atlantic Ocean when a vessel had lost all her anchors, all the stones were thrown overboard as anchors, and actually saved the vessel. That was probably what prompted us to use the grate bars.
"I think that most of the damage was done to the boat at the coal fleet, as I remember of striking nothing after that. We had no lights to amount to anything and could do nothing. The damage to the boat will probably be about $1500 and we will be able to leave Tuesday afternoon. We cannot tell at present what the loss on our cargo will be as it is not all out of the hold yet. The way bills are on the wharf boat, so the bills will all have to be. It was a remarkable escape and I fell thankful that the damage was no worse than it was."
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 June 1894, page 5
KATES
June 2 at 12 pm suddenly at his residence, Lake st. Bellevue Ky. Captain Lew Kates, age 68years. Funeral Monday, June 4, at 1:30 pm from his late residence.
Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 June 1894, page 8
SUDDEN DEATH
Of Captain Lewis Kates, a Well-Known Steamboat Captain
There will be grief among many persons, and especially among river men, when they learn of the death of Captain Lewis Kates. That event took place yesterday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Bohan in Bellevue Ky.
His death was sudden. During the morning he took a walk, but not feeling well returned home and laid down. While he was doing so his wife asked him the time of day and looking at he watch he said, it was 10:39 o'clock. A few minutes afterward he was seized with convulsions and at 11:40 breathed his last. Dr. Schoolfield was called in, but could not check the attack.
Captain Kates had feared for some time that he would died suddenly and frequently spoke of it to his wife. Especially was this so since he had an attack of convulsions last January, by which his constitution was much weaker. The deceased had been a steamboat man for 48 years, running between this city and New Orleans, and was one of the best known steamboat Captains in that trade. At different times he had owned an interest in the Nick Longworth, Thomas Sherlock, Will Kyle and other New Orleans packets. He was a man of courageous, sterling qualities. An instance of his courage was when he stayed on the steamer Mary Houston, when she was swept down the river by the ice a year ago last winter. He did not desert his craft, but remained with her until she was safe in harbor again.
He was 68 years of age and a native of Port Elizabeth N. J. For the past 20 years he had been a member of Miami Lodge F and A M of this city. During the past year he spent his time writing and an autobiography and completed it last week. For several years recently he commanded the Mary Houston in the Coney Island trade during the summer. He leaves a widow and one daughter. The funeral will take place next Monday afternoon and the interment will be in Spring Grove.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 July 1903, page B2
Captain Lew Kates
Captain Lew Kates was perhaps as well known as any boatman in the Ohio as a genial, painstaking officer. For many years he filled the position of mate and grew into the business. It used to be said it was more difficult, to secure a good mate and competent in all details of boating that it was to get a good Captain. he was master of the Nick Longworth for a time, and his last boat was the Mary Houston. His death occurred only a few years since.