The Week/1917/Captain William Eaton

Another of the rapidly diminishing number of pioneers of the Australian coast passed away on Tuesday, in the person of Captain William Eaton. The deceased master mariner was one of the most skilful navigators on the Australian coast. In the whole of his seafaring experience he never had an accident of any kind worth mentioning. For the last 13 years he conducted a school of navigation, and a couple of years ago he was appointed to a seat on the Marine Board in place of the late Mr. Tom Johnson, Within the last few days Captain Eaton was appointed a vice-chairman of the board. In his earlier days the deceased gentleman—and no man ever deserved the name of gentleman more richly that he—saw much as an officer it the employ of Messrs. M'Ilwraith, M'Eacharn, and Co. Subsequently he entered the service of the A.U.S.N. Company, as third made [sic] of the Fitzroy, and after a decade of faithful work he rose to the rank of master, and commanded successively the Croydon, Eurimbla, Yaralla, Barcoo, Warrego, and Aramac. A week or two ago, Captain Eaton met with a tramway accident, one of his hands being injured. He succumbed to tetanus. Mrs. Eaton passed away a few months ago. A son of Captain Eaton is serving with the A.I.F., in France. Prior to enlisting, he was a teacher at Taringa State school. Mrs. Tiddy, wife of Captain H. J. Tiddy, who lately was staff-officer for returned soldiers, is a daughter of the late Captain Eaton. Another daughter, Miss Mary Eaton, lived with her father at Princhester street, West End. The funeral, which took place this morning, was largely attended, members of the Marine Board, and representatives of shipping and commerce, as well as private friends, attended or sent wreaths.