The Portland daily press., 1881-01-28
CAPT. JOHN j. LISCOMB.
A Sketch OF His Eventful Career.

OdPe' SOuu ~ lIlbCOuU, 81 lung huOWu anu
so popular as the commander. of the steamer
John Brooks of the Portland Steam Packet
Company, died Wednesday night at his resi-
dence, corner of Smith and Cumberland
streets. He had been great sufferer since
December 10th (when he left his vesseD from
dysentery ,abscess on the liver, land finally death
resulted from blood poisoning, supposed to
have been caused by amalgam with which he
had had his teeth filed.
Capt. Liscomb was born in Bristol, R. l., in
1920. His parents died when he was quite
young and he adopted the sea as profession,
sailing toNew Orleans when ten years oil d.
lie spent his eleventh birthday in Amsterdam.
linen he visited all the European ports, fol-
lowing his profession and studying all the time
to gain an education, especially thorough
knowledge of navigation.
He commenced his steamboat career ON the
steamer Bangor, running between Portland
and Bangor, in the year 1887. In the follow
ing spring, however, he took an ocean voy-
age In the ship Palestine of Bath. He soon
after engaged as first mate of the ship Dem
mark OF Boston. He spent the winter of 1889
In Portland and in the spring of 1910 he went
TO sea as mate of the bark Julie of Providence
and subsequently as master of the ship Amer
lea. In 1904 he resumed his steamboat life
as mate OF the steamer Portland, running be-
tween Portland and Boston. Capt. j. B. Coyle
was master of the Portland at the time. Cap
tain Liscomb afterwards filed the positions of
mate and pilot on the propellors built by the
present Portland Steam Packet Company.
Subsequently, also, he was pilot and captain
on the side wheel steamers built by the COM
pany. Capt Liscomb commanded the steam
er Forest City at the time of the capture of
the revenue cutter Caleb Cushing in Portland
harbor, during the war, by the rebel vessel
Tacony. Capt Liscomb promptly pursued, al
though the Forest City was armed with only
few guns and small company of soldiers, and
the rebels abandoned the cutter and blew her
up. Capt. Lscomb also commanded the steam
er New Brunswick, of the Internati onal line,
during the stormy Burnside expedition, where
his skill and experience proved of great value
His efficient services were warmly commended
by Gems Burnside and Foster. Capt. Lis
comb has been master of the steamer John
Brooks from the time when she first went on
the Portland and Boston line.
Capt. Liscomb's career has been remarkably
successful. During his ser vice as steamboat
captain he has not had serious accident. No
passenger has ever been lost or injured on
board of the steamer which he commanded.
He was one of the most skillful pilots in the
service and as a commander he was not sur
passed. He was beloved and respected by all
OF his officers and crew. He was great fav-
orite with the travelling public, being courte-
GUS and attentive to all his passengers.
He bore the respect and esteem of his COM
pany, and yesterday morning, as soon as the
news OF his death was known, the Maine
Steamship Company, the Portland, Bangor
and Machias Steamboat Company and the In
ternational Steamship Company ordered their
flags at half mast The flags on the John
Brooks, his old steamer, which he has COM
manded for so many years, were also at half
mast
Capt. Lscomb leaves widow and two sons,
the older one being the secretary of the Port
land Steam Packet Company, and the younger
assistant clerk on the steamer John Brooks.
He was a member Of Ancient Landmark Lodge,
Greenleaf Chapter, Portland Council ST. AL
bans Commandery, and the Ancient and Ac-
cepted Scottish Rites of Masons. He belonged
to Ancient Brothers Lodge and Machigonne
Encampment of Odd Fellows and to the Odd
Fellows Mutual Relief Association and Port
land Marine Society. He was firm believer
in the Swedenborgian faith and cxemplifed
that faith by conspicuously consistent life
His death will bring sorrow to a host of
friends.
His funeral will take place on Saturday fore
noon at II o'clock. Rev. J. K Smyth of the
New Jerusalem church will officiate. Dele
cations from the Masonic, Odd Fellows and
other organizations to which he belonged
will be present, and the music will be furnish
ed by the State street choir.