Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-30

again went coasting on the brig Corin-
THAN, with Captain Sampson. his
last voyage in a sailing vessel was a
trip to Europe with Captain Thompson
ON the ship Powhattan.
In 1886 he began his steamboat ca
reer as fireman Of the steamer New
England. Capt. Nathaniel Kimball. and
continued with the steamer until she
was wrecked off Portsmouth. June l.,
1899. The New England ran on the
kennebec and Boston route. and as she
used wood for fuel, it was necessary
| to fill her hull full of that material to
last during the trip. 1t was due to this
! fact that she did not sink when she
| was stove by being in collision with a
schooner off Portsmouth. The schoon-
err afterward came alongside and took
off the steamers passengers. only one
| life was lost, that Of man who fell
overheard, and was crushed between
| the two vessels.
After this disaster Captain Collins
was made assistant engineer OF the
steamer HuntreSs, of the same route
and in 1872 was promoted to the berth
of chief. In 1850. during the gold ex-
element in California, he went to the
Pacific coast as chief engineer or the
steamship Independence, and ran the
steamer on that route until she was
wrecked on Marietta island, Off the
coast of lower California, Feb. 1t, 1888.
He then came east and was engineer
on Atlantic coast steamers until the
breaking out of the Civil War, when
he was given command of the steamer
Eastern Queen, running between Hall
Dwell and Boston, succeeding MS
cousin, Capt. James Collins. The same
year Captain Collins was enabled TO
get a good insight OF the art OF war,
as the Queen was sent South on trans
port duty He was eight months with
General Furnishes expedition in North
Carolina, and in 1862 he took the Queen
TO New Orleans with General Banks
expedition.
In 1866, when the Star Of the East
(now the Sagadahoc) was built Cap
tain Collins was given the command
of her, and for nearly a quarter of
century guided the steamer on her
route, with never an accident of serl-
Gus nature, nor a single loss Of life. When
the steamer Kennebec was built he
was transferred to the new boat, which
position he has since filled. 1t was I'M
new steamer was built. for he knew
not only how to run boat. but also
how one should be built, from knowl-
edge acquired by experience.
In February, 1915, Captain Collins
married Louise, daughter Of Nathaniel
Remission of Farmingdale. the union
resulting in the birth of five children.
Those living are: Anna a., Della H..
Eugena and Wallace ]. Mrs. Collins
died in 1893.
Captain Collins was q remarkable
man in many ways. 1t is rarely that
man is found commanding a steamer
at the age of So years, with a record OF
continuous service at sea for nearly 10
yearS-years which We're not all
fraught with sunshine. but which were
punctuated with hours of shipwreck
and peril such as make some men
grow old before their time. All the
varied experiences which go to make
up the life of a seaman were his. but
nothing seemed to wear upon him. and
year after year approaching summer
found him in his accustomed place on
the steamer deck, looking just as hale
and hearty as ever, and always the
same genial, careful man of good judy
ment and perfect discipline. 1t was
these qualities for which he was noted,
and which won for him when a young
man the positions of trust which he
afterwards held.
Socially he was man whom any one
might be proud to call a friend. He
never entered the world Of politics. for
if he had the desire, he never had the
time, but in his sphere as captain OF
one of successful line of steamboats,,
he enjoyed large and ever increasing
list of acquaintance with whom by
closer contact he never failed to win as
friends. He was always very courte-
Gus to passengers and solicitous re-
garding their comfort. and as captain
of the boats was considered one of the
most careful navigatOrs that ever
sailed out of the Kennebec river. 1t
was a knowledge OF his reputation in
this respect that won for him the conf
dence Of the thousands who have
travelled with him.
BY religious preference Captain Col
Inns was a Methodist. He was a men,
Der Of Hermon Lodge, F. and A. NJ.
and Of Maine Commandery for years,