New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-16
PERFECTED SIGNAL LIGHT
Mrs. Martha j. Co tom Dead-Her
Remarkable Career.
IyRoM THE TRIBUNE nuREAu.l

Washington. Jan. l5.-Mrs. Martha ]. Coston.
whose funeral took place in this city yesterday.
became famous more than half century ago for
her share In the invention OF the Coston Signal
Lights. which she sold the United States and
other governments. and which acknowledged to
be the best in the world.
Mrs Coston q bride sixteen and a widow
at twenty-one. Her young husband appointed
n captain in the navy IN recognition OF his in
ventive genius. He had invented a number OF use
ful devices which were adopted by the navy and
had begun TO work out his idea OF night signals
when death put stop to what had promised to
be most brilliant and useful
During their brief married life they lived at the
navy yard here and made many friends. 1t at
official bali that they met Dolly Madison IN
a white hrocade. sim with huge gold roses and a
white crepe turban set gracefully her gray
curls.' Mrs Madison took wonderful fancy to
the young couple and frequently visited them In
their little home. At another FORMAL ball Mrs
Coston went through quadrille with Henry Clay
and sat OUT waltz with Daniel Webster. At
another she received a compliment from General
Winfield Scott which she returned with another"
The death OF Captain Coston left his young family
penniless Among his papers however. Mrs Coston
found his latest invention. n pyrotechnic signal
light. intended the OF the navy a night
flag signals used by day. The widow
ing shared her husbands enthusiasm. lind i'm
bibed. also. good deal OF knowledge OF his work.
and long siege OF official trials and failures
she at last succeeded IN perfecting the Coston
u largo amount.
When she went to Europe to introduce her inven-
ton foreign powers she made the voyage with
Harriet Beecher Stowe, then in the flush OF her
literary Charles Francis Adams. United
States Minister to England. presented Mrs. CostOn
to Queen Victoria and 1.-The Court Journal" in its
report of the Drawing Room, mentioned her
Of the five bellies present While in Stockholm she
attended fete given by Admiral Farragut
board the Franklin, and one OF her faVorite anec
dotes OF late years the amusement Mrs. Farra-
gut and herself got out of order from the King
and Queen of Sweden for Mrs Farragut appear
at the royal palace. Being in mourning she had
only black and white gowns but. both coors being
directing the blue satin frock' she had at
Grant reception, and in which Mrs. COston decked
her out. the intense admiration OF the Admiral
and his
and Empress Eugene the Court Chronicle de-
scrbed the beautiful American genius
ing white satin beneath clouds of gold embroidered
tule, lOn,; train of vivid. rich green velvet
acorns, and bodice OF white satin and gold. and
Jewels worth kings ransom" 1t while
she being presented to King Victor Emmanuel
that she learned privately that Italy had adopted
the Coston signal. and she had to go home. fear
Ing that the court might notice that she was
"treading air"
Mrs Coston was born in Baltimore but spent
her grlhood in Philadelphia, and married in
that city. During her widowhood she lived for
years Staten Island, where she owned home
and large building for the manufacture of the
signals. 1t there that her only living son lost
his life by explosion Of the chemicals used.
Though Mrs COston lived to be over eighty years
of age she retained her splendid mentality until
the last. and entertaining a companion that
her death caused widespread regret among her
friends in this and other cities.