Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-09
CAPT. COUCH DEAD.
This Veteran Steamship Commander
Dies at His Connecticut Home.
Begun Life ms Cabin Roy, Became
first omcer of the Roanoke, and
Tong Ran between Here aud New


Captain George W. Couch, who for so
many years piled between New York and
Richmond on the Old Dominion steamers,
10 no more. lie died at his home, in, South
NorwaR, Conn. Monday morning, ana
was buried there yesterday.
Captain John Il. Mayer yesterday re-
ceived a letter from Mr.. II. A. Bourne,
president OF the Old Dominion steamship
Company. advising him OF the death OF
Captain Couch. In his letter Mr.. Bourne
says: Captain Couch was SO many years
on the. route between New York and
Richmond. and was so universally known
that think il will be well for you TO
call the attention OF the Richmond press
to his death. ] do not suppose there is
any man living who has travelled so
often between New York and Richmond
as he, or who has come in contact with
moro Virginia people"
!. No particulars of Captain COUGHS de-
misc have yet been received here, but II
Is known that he had been in wretched
health for months, and this fact alone
caused him last August to resign his po-
sltion with the Old Dominion Company
and to retire from active service.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Captain Couch was II years OF age.
and had been IN active sea service for
more than seventy years. He was the
Son of New England whaler who lived
in Norwalk. and for years commanded
whaler IN this Arctic regions. When the
deceased was years OF age his father
commanded a packet running to Rich
inond. and he travelled with him as
cabin boy. The young sailor took after
his father In his love for the sea, and
gradually climbed up to the position Of
captain OF the packet schooner Wey-
mouth in 1S43. There were no steamers
plying between Richmond and New York
then. and nearly all the travel between
the. two cities was on board the packets.
The passenger accommodations were COM
plete and satisfactory in every respect.
The state-rooms were handsomely finish
ed. and many comforts supplied. Large
parties frequently took the trip for plea
sure. others for health. and, many social
features were INDUCED in during the
weeks voyage. These trips were often
nothing less than Yachting parties on
pleasure bent
Captain Couch with his genial nature
and big, warm heart and love OF fun,
soon became a great favorite with the
yachting parties.
FIRST OFFICER ON THE ROANOKE.
Captain Couch commanded several sail
ing vessels until 1851. when he accepted
the position of first officer on the steam
ship Roanoke, of the New York and
Virginia Steamship Company. Captain
Thomas Skinner was In command. He
was soon afterwards appointed TO take
command OF the Roanoke, and continued
to run her until the breaking out of the
war in 1861. The Roanoke was the last
steamship to leave Richmond in that
year.
The trucking interest, which Is now so
large in Virginia, was just commencing
before the war, and COO barrels of truck
on one ship was considered a very large
shipment. The Roanoke would not carry
more than one sixth part of the cargo of
the Old Dominion. and when loaded deep
would not make over ten miles an hour.
Captain Couch ran 10 Habana and
New Orleans from Richmond, when the
civil war stopped the service between
Richmond and New York. In 1863 he
took charge of the steamship Creole
of the same company. and in the same
route. and year later he commanded
the screw steamer Yazoo, Which piled
between Richmond and New Orleans, ocs
casionally touching at Key West, and
subsequently he commanded the Niaga-
ra, in the same company's service. and
in. 126s was made captain Of the steam
ship General Grant, in the Cromwell
Line. running to New Orleans. In the
latter part OF the same year he resigned
from. the Cromwell Line, and was APP
pointed commander OF the steamship
Hatteras, in the Old Dominion Line
running from New York 90 Norfolk, City
Point and Richmond From that date to
last August he commanded various vessels
for the Old Dominion Company. and for
the last seven years of his service he
commanded tho Old Dominion.
xts HAD ROUGH EXPERIENCES
There were few men with a wider ae-
quaintance than Captain Couch. and the
news of his death will cause almost uni
versal sorrow. During more than forty
one. years of continued service as steam
strip captain he faced danger without
tremor. Upon one or two occasions the
ruddy-facei old sea captain entertained
little hope OF ever reaching shore with
his passengers. Luck was with him, how
ever. and by sticking TO his post of duty
for three days and three nights. without
wink of sleep. during terrific northeasters.
he managed to save his craft, with all
on board. His roughesr experience was I'm
aha fail of 1852. He was then commanding
the packet schooner Groenway, which left
New York, bound for Richmond, late one
afternoon. A terrific gale was blowing
and very heavy sea running. When
two days out the seas commenced
10 break over the packets decks with
immense force. The Greenway pitched
and yolied like a cat-boat. All hands
were kept below for twelve hours, and
not passenger dared come up for nearly
week. The plucky craft batted with
The seas for several days, and Captain
Couch felt a deal of uneasiness when
he found her being steadily blown from
the Gulf stream. Accident after acct
dent made matters gloomy for the pas
sengers. They knew nothing of their
extreme danger, however, for the stern
Captain, though recognizing the danger,
kept IL all from his passengers. Fur
Their and further the packet drifted. Seve-
raj OF her spars were smashed TO atoms,
her iife-boats were lost. her cooking gal
ley was practically carried away her
buiwarks demolished. and the staunch
craft was stove in from stern to bow.
More than 81. $50 worth OF freight was lost
overheard. and after nearly two weeks
OF drifting the Greenway. veritable
wreck. barely reached Norfolk. Not
soul was lost.