The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-07-14

Fortunes Fayorite.

4
Fortunes Fayoritc.
A Tug Engineer Becomes a Milionair,
HOW HE GOT HIS FIRST LICENSE A
DETROIT.
During the late war a father AM
two sous entered tile Third Pennsyl
yania Cavalry and served until til,
father and one son were killed ane
the surviving son was sent home dis
abled. The father left an estate val
ued at that time at about $500, 600
and from the time Of his death unit
about 9 month ago the estate has
been in litigation. During this time
the survivor, James Shay by name
determining to fit himself out fol
life, with commendab 'k perseverance
has learned the trade Of stone cutter,
machinist and engineer, and during
the last winter worked at Dundee, in
this State, as engineer in a mill.
Previous to his leaving his home at
Philadelphia, however, he placed the
L :. u Z /. =
securing Of his portion Of bis fathers
estate e as his heir, in the hands of a
lodge Of Knights Templar, to which
his father belonged, with Charles, R.
| Miner, Of Philadelphia, as special
counsel. s.
HIS FIRST LICENSE. 81. Fs
While at work in the mill at DIM
dee, MI. Shay became ambitious to
add the experience of a steamboat
engineer to the record Of his life, aud
last winter proceeded TO Cleveland to
secure an engineers license. In con.
sequence OF an injury received. while
in the army, Mr.. Shay had a very.
strong impeachment ID his speech,
causing him to speak very slowly,
and for this reason he vas i l,nsac-
ce : ii getting his engineers Ii.
Gense. From Cleveland he went to
Buffalo, Erie and Toledo, renewing
hia applications and undergoing ex-
ahinations, Bit without success, and
the first Of last April he arrived, in
this city with two dollars in Ills
pocket and railroad ticket to Tole-
do. He Immediately Interviewed
Messrs. Saunders 5 CooE Steamboat
Inspectors at this port, was examined
by them, and vas told that he had
proved himself worthy Of a license as
second engineer on a high pressure
ehsllic or first engineer On Oh !. 4 t,,g-boat,
- 4 y ~. 4 :
and that if he could secure such d 20
sition they would issue his license.
The cost of a license is FIVE dollars,
which MI. Shay did not have, and he
so informed the Inspector, promising
to send the amount within thirty
days. sympathizing with Mr.. Shay
aud admiring his perseverance, the
Inspectors told him they would issue
his license and trust him for its cost,
and he departed for Toledo, and in
less than aweek had secured a posi-.
ton on the tug G. R. Hand. The
coveted license was made out at this
port and sent to him, and Messrs.
Cook and Saunders recorded the
third license granted this season to
Toledo engineers, where The appli-
cant was trusted for the cost.
The tug Hand was engaged at To.
ledo in towing scows, tenders to tie
Tdredges at work on the harbor i'm
provements at that port, and Shay
was in good spirits, working faith
fully, his; license being paid for and
for the time being, as he saws: a
had given mighty little thought to
what / might or might not get from
Philadelphia
HOW He STRIPPED.
During the forenoon Of Tuesday,
June LIST, Mr.. Shay was at work in
the hold Of the tug and tightening
the brasses on the connecting rod,
when the hatchway above was dark.
ened, and, looking NJ, he saw a smil-
ing countenance peering down at him,
and a hand incased reaching toward
him. james, ! think you may stop
work for q while;'' said the intruder,
and the voice was recognized as
Charlie Miner, his counsel.
= got stuck on the center,,'' said
Shay, when | saw Mr.. Miner, but
told him I would be ondeck immedi.
ately i he would get out Of the way.
Covered With smoke and oil, I climb
ed out, and, just as / was, not even