The Portland daily press., 1884-12-31
.Iohn Brown Coxle.

stands above, and who died early yesterday
morning, was born near Norwich, Connecticut,
October 9th, 1906 His youth was spent at the
place of his birth. Fulton's early boats were
then in existence, and others Of not much
later build had become the packets in place Of
the sailing vessels formerly running to New
York. On one of these boats the young man
commenced his career, which afterwards
identified his name with steam navigation in
all the Eastern waters.
The Legislature of New York had granted
great privileges to the Livingston s. Fulton
Steam Navigation Company. No steam vessel
could navigate New York Bay the North
River Long Island Sound, or any of the lakes
or rivers of New Yark without their license.
Thereupon in 1922 the Connecticut Legislature
enacted a law that no vessel having such
license should enter any waters within that
State. The steamboat Connecticut was then
running between New York and New Haven.
This, think, was the boat on which young
Mr.. Coyle was employed. The effect of this
prohibitory law was to drive the Fulton Com
pany's steamers out of Connecticut waters,
aBd they commenced to run to Providence,
touching at Newport, which brought our Mr..
Coyle, then only II years old, on to longer
aud seagoing route. In 1880 the Connecticut
was purchased by Portland parties.
Mr. Coyle continued the Sound boats
until 1884, when he became chief engineer of
the MeDonough. She was built in 1925 TO run
from New York to Hartford. She was of $50
tons, and had copper boiler. She had been
employed during the Summer of 1888 between
Portland and Boston. The following Winter
she was hauled up on the marine railway at
Salem and had a new bow. built on, which
lifted her forward, increased her speed, and
made her much drier sea boat. In the Spring
of 1884 the McDonough returned to the Port
land and Boston route Ia charge of Captain
Sidney X. Howard. The newspaper notice of
the resumption of her route said: "An ex-
peren Jed engineer is engaged from one of the
Providence boats" This experienced engineer
was John B. Cogle, and this was bis first visit
to Portland. About this time Amos H.
Gross, of Portland, with the assistance of Cor
nelius Vanderbilt of New York, purchased the
splendid old steamer Chancellor Livingston
built in New York in 1915, under the personal
superintendent of Robert Fulton, but ha died
before her launching. She was much larger
than any previous boat that had come to Maine
being of about 500 tons, and having copper
boiler. She had three smoke stacks, three
masts bowsprit aud jibboom, with yards on
the Iofemast to the royal, aud was formida-
BILE looking vessel for q coasting steamer.
There was music in her name. 1t was the
name of Fnlton's early friend, whose capital
and influence enabled him to show his invent
i've genius. After while the Livingston came
into the hands of the old Porter Company, but
on exarni r. ina ton was found rotten anu unsafe.
Mr.. Coyle suggested utilizing the engine and
some of the fixtures of the old boat in a new
one. His advice was taken, and company
formed, which built the Portland" at the
foot OF Park street during the years 1834-5
While the hull was building, Mr.. Coyle had a
crew OF naachinists under him overhauling tbs
engine, which was the third one which had
been in the Livingston. The cylinder was of
40 inches diameter, and the stroke five feet.
Mr. Coyle put the engine into the new boat,
ard on her commencement of her trips to Bog
ton, in August, 1885, he was appointed chief
engineer, and finally was promoted to the
command. Capt. Coyle was the founder of
the present "Steam Packet Company" and
has been the executive and building agent
since. OF the boats which have come under
his supervision can recollect the names of
the followiDg Commodore Preble and Gen.
Warren, propellers. The first was launched
in 1916. ST. Lawrence, Montreal, Lewiston,
Forest City, John Brooks and fremont, There
are others whose names l do not now recall
He has also directed the repairs and refittipg
of the early boats of the International line.
Besides steam navigation Captain Coyle took
an interest in most of the enterprises projected
for the benefit OF the city, and it is a satisfsc-
tion to know that he leaves a son of experience
and of similar tastes and talents to the father
to fill the place made vacant.
1t was not business enterprises alone that oc-
al reforms and most of the charitable move
1ents of the city. Especially was he practi-
cal and outspoken temperance advocate, and
required his employees to practice abstinence
He expelled the liquor bar from his company's
boats. which eaussd their patrons to feel more
safe at sea
Capt. Coyle was the first to succsed in burn
ing anthracite Coal in steam vessel. Up to Z
1886 all the steamboats, Of ths United States
had burnt wood only The 'Novelty" burnt
forty pnTf1 each nagsaoa hat Uvaan Nauu Vork
and Albany. The great consumption of wood
caused steamboat men to look about for sub
stitute. A boat running from New York to
Charleston had attempted to use coal without
success While Captain Coyle was engineer of
the Portland he tried experiments with
bituminous coal, but it covered everything
with SCOT. He then conceived the plan to
burn anthracite with blower driven BY gear
ing from the main shaft, but the spssmodic &C.
tion Of the wheels In rough weather broke the
cogs of the gear wheels; a belt on pullsys " rs
next tried with success, and anthracts coal
came into general use for marine boilers Capt
Coyle's blower aud gearing was constructed by
John Sparrow, who then had a machine shop
on Union street
An accident is recollected which happened
to the McDonough in the fall of 1884, while
Mr.. Coyle was engineer. The late E. @. An
drews was baggage master of the McDonough
aud related to me the particulars of the mishsp
within three years. The boat left Portland
at B o'clock p. M, aud when off Cape
Ann the next morning, she was overtaken by
an essterly storm and very soon broke her
main shaft. The jib was then hoisted, which
carried away her only mast; in its fall it Sc
verey injured passenger The boat now
drove unmanageable towards the shore. E n
gineer Coyle was equal to the requirement.
and disengaged the broken end OF tho shaft,
which enabled him to york one wheel. With
this wheel the boat was got under the lee OF
small island. In getting her head to the sea,
two anchors were lost, which left only one.
This was let go and the whole chain paid out,
which brought the craft to, but the anchor
would net hold her q moment without the
assistance of the engine. Mr.. Coyle stood all |
that lon0 day with his hand on the starting
bar, easing the strain on the anchor in the
gusts, and holding his steam in the lulls, to
save fuel, which was furnished for the last
hours from the woodwork of the boat for lack |
of other material. All hands watched the
overstrsined cable, expecting it to give way
like the others, which would have caused the |
destruction of the boat and probably all hands |
on board, but 1t held until the gale abated, |
when the boat was got safely into Salem.
Capt. Coyle was by birth aud education an |
EpiscopalisD, and when he first came here as |
engineer of the McDonough in 1884, he spent |
Sundays in Portland. He had fine bass |
voice and liked to use it. He was a constant |
attendant at the old brick church of st. PaulG, |
which stood on PesTl street, where Newbury |
street crosses it. Having been up all night at |
his duties, he often came in during the sing
iug and joined the choir at once, |
His voice was very noticeable and many invol- |
unfairly looked up to the organ gallery, al |
through they knew the source of the improve |
meDt in the choir's performances. The gifted |
son inherited his fine voice from the father.
When Mr.. Coyle came to have permanent |
business here, he brought his family, which |
included his good mother, who became q COM |
municant of this same old church of blessed |
memory.
A musical incident which shows the Cap |
tain's kindness 6f heart comes to my mind az
/ write. 1t was related to me by himself. Az |
ter the Portland railroad had reached Ports |
mouth Cornelius Vanderbilt sent Capt. Coyle |
with one of his boats II think the Express) to |
take passengers from the railroad to Boston, |
She was bought off the line and finished the |
season by running from Boston to Province |
town, Cape Cod, staying over Sunday at the |
latter place. That sensible town had expended |
their share of the surplus revenue OF 1889 in |
building plank walk of q mile in length over |
the sand. When night came on Capt. Coyle |
got homesek and got on this plank walk for |
promenade. Before he reached the end, he |
heard loud singing, as il by many voices at q |
distance. When he reached the end of the |
xUa1 ha off off inta tha nd 70 End