The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-23
OBITUARY.
L. K. COLLINS.

Mr.. f. X. Collins founder OF one OF the first lines
of American steamships died at hafpast twelve yes.
terday, vt his residence at the southwest corner of
Madison avenue ana Thirtythrd street, In the
seventy-sixth year Of his age. Mr.. Collins 70.
tired Monday night In his usual health,
but was awakened by severe plrs, which
however, disappeared before morning. lie rose np.
parently as well as ever, and about hali-past ton
O'CLOCK no took a bath. and then laid upon his bed.
About his wife heard him grooming, and in alarm
sent for physician. but before he arrived Mr. Col
Inns had expired. HI had been attended by Or Petit.
jean for the past six months for Brights disease Of
the kidneys.
The deceased was born August S, 1902, at Truro.
Cape Cod, Mass He began life clerk with Messrs
McCrea sde In South street, this city, ut the age
OF fifteen. Remaining IN their employ m ent for sew.
oral years, he aiterward became a clerk and SUPER
cargo making several voyages to the West Indies in
a jont venture with the late John +. Della
PLANE Later be joined his father, Israel
& Collins. in business on tho corner Of
Burl,ug slip and South street, where they carried
on u general shipping and commission business. A
low years later the deceased established line Of
packets to Vera Cruz, Mexico. Ho was the first
person to put full rugged ships upon that line,
small schooners only having been heretofore
engaged. About 1881 I've became the and az mt
! ing between this city ami New Orleans. Five years
later he established the "Dramaic lane OF Packets"
nent actors.
when Brush steamers began 10 arrive in this port
Mr. Collins concluded that steam was 10 be the iutIrc
propeliing power upon the ocean, and proposed 10
| President Van Buren, TO bul!d up a steam navy
! by s1DsidIzng mail steamers to foreign ports
MIR. Van Buren, replied CURLY that this coun-
! try required navy at all, much less steam
navy. Notwithstanding this rebuff Mr.. Collins still
entertained the idea OF building and sondipg steam
vessels under tho American Gag during the Presi-
dcncy OF James X. Polk the latter invited him to
assist IN framing bl Tor INC Substituting OF
I'm mi mdar
it tho first American mail stcamers-thc
Washington and the Herman-croseed the
ocean. About 1S47 Mr.. Collins entered into a con-
tract with the United States government to build
steamers and transport the mails between TINS city
and liverpool aud he ihen established what was was
| Atlantic, Pacific, ARCTIC, Baltic and Adriatic, YES.
sells which at tho time excited the admiration Of
| Americans. Mr. Collins first contract was 10 carry
the mails twenty voyages year. but, after he began
| running his vessels. the Post Office Department
deemed that tho efficiency OF the service would DO
| improved by making six additional voyages a year.
! Although there was no Appropriation Tor this extra
service be responded 70 the request OF the depart
inent with tho words, ''You have but to command
and shall obey"
Mr.. Collins made many improvements In naval
architecture and In the rigging OF ships, but never
patented any OF them, allowing everybody no chose
profit by them. He was the first to introduce fiat
foorcd ships which were ridicuied Tor time put were
afterwards generally adopted He was also the first 10
introduce poop deck cab upon the Atlantic steamers.
This feature msde his line very popular with the ira
Yelling public, and was afterward universally imi-
tated. These steamers were plying until $685. wnen
the government broke the with Mr. Collins by
withholding the compensation Tor carrying the malls,
and the vessels sold to merchants aud several
ol them now doing duty as sailing vessels. For
many years Mr.. Collins was largely identified with
various enterprises connected with tho growth oil the
commerce Of THIS Guy, but OF late he had been Gu
gagged business, and devoted mis- attention
10 the development oil some valuable coal and iron
lands owned by him IN ONO.
Mr.. Collins suffered severe blow In tho year 1854
when his wife and aud daughter wero lost at sos
by the sinking OF tho amp Arctic. The accident oc
Cured Oh the 9Th OF September Mr. Collins vessel
bound IRON Liverpool 10 New York. being run INTO and
destroyed by French hshng steamer of the Banks o.
ewiouhdand. Besides his WIFE, HIS son Henry ant
his daughter Nary, the passenger list ontained the
names OF James Il. Woodruff, Mrs. Collins brother
aud his vile, to both OF whom Mr. Collins was much
attached. A few years alter tho death OF hrs fra
wife. wnose maiden name was Mary Ann Woodruff
Mr. Collins remarked. The name oil his second vic
whom he lived until the time oil his death, beni
Sarah Browne. This was her second marriage also.
10 ls45 Mr.. Collins purchased fine estate OF nearl,
three hundred and hity acres at Now Rochelle. IN,
place was known as larchmont Manor. This was sol,
Two years ago. when Mr. Collins removed TO fremont
Just above Norrsania. For years past he had
! comp ,ratvcly strengthened circumstances. IL wa
only a year ago that he bought the house 10 whict
he died, a three story brown stone building, beau
| tiiulIy furnished throughout Though making n
pletoncs Of religion, and not belonging 70 al.