Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-11
A NOTABLE MAN GONE,
Death of Captain Nicholas J. BigIey-His
Eventful Business Career-A Pioneer Of
the Pittsburg Coal Trnd.-sacrificing a
Fortune for Houorss Sake

Death oil Captain Nicholas J. BixIey-4is
Eventful Business Career-A Pioneer Of
the PittsburE Coal Trnd.-sacrificiuR a
Fortune for Houor's sake,
The death of Captain Nicholas ]. Bieley.
which occurred al McKeesport Yesterday
morning at $40 o'clock, closes the eyentful
career of one Of the county's most prominent
representative men. His death was attrIbuta.
Bile to injuries resulting from O railroad acci.
dent last Monday evening that crushed one arm
completely and inflicted other serious injuries.
The accident occurred near McKeesport. and
Captain Bigley was taken to the Hotel White
at that place, where be received the best med.
ical attention and nursing. The crushed arm
was amputased, but the reaction was too great
and Captain Bigley did not survive It, but died.
surrounded by his family, which consists Of a
wife, three sons and daughter. The funeral
will take place Sunday afternoon at the late
residence, in Coultersville, of the deceased.
The business career Of Captain Bigley has
been remarkable one, and in It be identified
Pittsburg's coal trade and the shipment Of coal
by water. He was nearly 20 years of age was
born In Alsace,a and came to this country when
IA wears old, and was apprenticed to Captain
Joseph Vandergrift as a blacksmith He dis
played marked business ability during his ap-
premiership and became greatly interested in
the future Of coal.
Captain Bigley's marriage with Captain Van.
point OF his long and successful business life.
Aided by the pronounced business tact of his
mother-in-law, he became an operator and
shipper of coal enlargtng the type of vessels for
carrying coal and introducing steamboats, to
facilitate trade, and was one OF the first to re-
turn empty craft to be reloaded at the mines.
He afterward became manager of the Alps
Coal Company and then became owner of the
property and the Hays works at Beck's Run.
His enterprises were all successful up to that
time with the exception Of one with the Gov
ernment just before the war. wherein an en-
tire feet Of boats were captured by the rebels
and Captain Bigley lost thereby the sum of
$4,000 or $50, QUO. which the Government recon-
pensed him for to The extent of $40, 900 about
TWO years ago. At the close Of the war he was
reputed 10 be millionaire, and built the town
OF Alpsville, where for some time he occupied
handsome residence, and where he built and
presented to the Catholic diocese beautiful
little sanctuary.
A few years previous to the panic, Captain
Bigley purchased 17,U00 acres of coal land in
west Virginia and obtained $50 900 from the
citizens at that point for the erection of
Diast furnace plant. The crash cana, and MIR.
bigley gave up his entire fortune rather than
tax advantage of the bankrupt laws. Cap
iialists. however, with unlimited confidence in
MIN supplied him with all the necessary money
to enable him to commence operations again,
and through MIR. Thaw's aid he secured valu-
able property at Amyville, which he has since
operated Two years ago he admitted to part
nership Edward Murphy, and the firm has
since been known as Bigley & Murphy.