The Portland daily press., 1881-05-20
Thomas Osgood Goold.

AASllesS OSSOOu GOOlQ'
The death of Themas O. Goold from can
Ger yesterday afternoon at $50 o'clock at his
residence on Deering street, although not un-
expected to his friends here, will also cause a
pang OF sorrow to his many acquaintance in
Canada, New England and New York. His
long service as express messenger between
Portland, Boston and New York, and his long
er employment as conductor OH what is now the
Grand Trunk railroad made him widely
known.
MIR. Goold was born in Windham in 1913.
His father was Simeon Goold, born on the day
that independence was declared, mill owner
there, and a CONT actor for furnishing frames
for buildings and ships. He removed to Port
land in 1922, and was in town meeting, chosen
surveyor of lumber which was a large bust
ness then. He finally became a West India
merchant, shipping his own lumber and i'm
porting M classes. His Oldest son Abraham O. /,
was swept from the deck of the brig Pensacola
of which he was master in 1885. He was lost.
The mother OF Thomas O.. Goold was a
daughter of Abraham Osgood, who was born
at Amesbury, Wiltshire, England, in 1929. He
came to Falmouth about 1860 His name ap-
pears as a subscriber to the building of St
Paul's church in 1868, and he was for several
years one OF its wardens. Mr.. Osgoods store
OF goods on King street was destroyed in
Mowatt's burning in 1775, when he removed to
Windham. His daughter Mrs. Goold died in
Portland in 1872 ,aged "a; her husband Simeon
Goold died in 1885, Their residence was on
Brown street, where their daughter, Mrs
Charles Davidson died May 10th this year.
Thomas o. Goods first business was the
learning and pursuing the trade of clothier
in Portland and Hallowell up to 1887; after
that he was two years at sea. In 1889 he COM
menced as messenger between Portland and
Boston for Child's express, in which he con-
tinued four years. In 1913 he was employed
by Alvan Adams messenger between Bos-
ton and New York for Adams & Co.'S express.
He was on the i'll fated steamer Atlantic
which was wrecked on Fishers Island on
Christmas day, 1876. Mr.. Goold had been
three years making trips over the sound aud
this was his first disaster
The steamer Atlantic as new vessel. She
was the largest boat which had been built for
that route and had made but two or three
trips. AT the hour for starting from Norwich,
the wind had increased to a gale with snow
Capt. Dustan was an experienced commander
and had some misgivings about leaving port
On such night, but his perfect confidence in
his boat and a wish to test her in rough
weather, coupled with wish to get his pas
sengers through to enjoy Christmas with their
friends induced him to put out. When off
Fishers Island the steam chest burst and the
vessel became unmanageable. Two anchors
were got out but the vessel steadily drag
ged. With the morning light came an in
crease of the gale, and certainty that the
boat must go ashore. All day long she slowly
drifted towards reef of rocks About &
o'clock p. m. the stern took the bottom and
lifted with the sea until the water became
shoal.
Mr.. Goold had with him yalise containing
$4,000 and other valuable packages. To be
prepared for the striking of the vessel, he had
closely packed these in beef barrel with
blankets, and bound it securely with cord.
He placed the barrel on the stern deck and
took his station by its side, to await the shock.
When it cama, a sea took the barrel over the
stern, and Mr.. Goold being an expert swimmer
followed it, and soon obtained foothold and
got his barrel into secure place. He then
returned to the surf and induced many passen-
gers to jump into the water, whom he assisted
out of the surf, some in helpless condition.
The account published al the time said he
saved the lives Of more than twenty passengers,
yet fifty perrished among them the captain of
the steamer. The wreck of the Atlantic re-
al ha NJ, +bo
the motion of the sea caused the bell on the
'''gallows frame" to continually toll requiem
for many months.
For his gallant conduct Mr.. Goold received a
gold medal from the Humane Society, tokens
OF thanks from many passengers, and from
several monied institutions of New York and
Boston, for whom he had funds; and from
Adams & Co. he received valuable gold
watch appropriately inscribed. He continued
in their employment three years after In
1919, when the Atlantic and ST. Lawrence
railroad was opened, Mr.. Goold received the
first appointment as a regular passenger con-
ductor, in which Office lie was continued under
the Grand Tr unk connection until he resigned
in 1872; after service of twenty-three years.
Mr.. GoOd has been twice married, the first
wife was Miss Stevens. The second who is
the mother of his two daughters, was original.
ly Miss Goldthwait, whose first husband was
Conductor Maxwell of the Portland, Saco and
Portsmouth railroad.
OF all of Simeon Goods family, John f.
Goold, formerly clerk of the steamer Lewiston
and now residing at Andover, is the only sur
vivor. VIC.