Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-06-13

for several years past, represent that be
is not expected 70 survive and that bis
death Is momentariIy looked for. Since
the above was written. Dir. Winans has
died. We are indebted to the Bahimore
-Nsw for the following sketch Ofhis life -
Thomas, who was the eldest son Of
the late Ross Winsns. was born IN Bal
timore in the year 1920. Under the in
stractions Of bis father he was bred to
the business Of maehinist, and dis
played al an early age the inventive
faculties by which his ancestor was dis
tinguished. When the Emperor Mich
olas was beilding the railroad from ST.
Petersburg TO Moscow, Major, alter
wards General Whistler. who bad gone
to Russia as chief engineer, end who
had been impressed with the talents Of
young Winans, invited him to Russia TO
take charge ofthe machinery. Pleased
with the idea, he formed a copastner-
ship with Messrs Eastman & Harri-on
Of Philadelphia. They, as Ross VII
mans had done before them, entered into
contracts with the Russian government,
out of which the three amassed princely
fortunes. While ia Russia Mr. Winsns
married.
Upon his return to Baltimore he puF-
chased nearly the whole of square Of
ground, fronting on Holiins and Balfi-
more streets AT thatkime g,sfufmosa u
part OF the suburbs Of the city, and was
purchased for what would now be con-
sidered ibe nominal sum Of $50, 0O0.-
To-day the city limits extend for miles
beyond. No part Of it is more thickly
populated, and business enterprise and
activity are almost as great in that
neigh6orhood as in any that could be
selected. The house IN which Mr..
WInans lived he designed himself Sew
eral additions, as convenience dictated,
have been made since il was first
and so regular is It in its proportions as
TO be almost circular. The grounds
around were beautifully ornamented.-
The choicest flowers, the finest sculp-
ture, and, in short, all the beauties which
taste could suggest or ART could furnish,
combined, as they now even to great
er extent combine, 20 render il a most
delightful garden. Some pieces of stat
uary which he had purchased gave of
fence to certain passers-by. The at
tention Of the City Council was called
to the matter, and a resolution was sub
sequently passed ordering the "objec-
tionable" objects to be removed. Mr..
Winans retaliated by erecting a high
wall, not only concealing them but ev-
erything else. The City Fathers recon-
sidered the matter. Mr.. Winans re-
NAMED fixed in his determination to
neither remove nor lower the WALL
Thus the public is deprived OF pleas
ure OF witnessing what is. one OF the
most interesting sights OF the city. &
With occasional absences in Europe.
il was in this elegant residence that MIR.
Winans. inheriting from his father not
only the mechanical genius which Illus
trates the name, but also The finer tastes
which enabled him to appreciate liter
allure and art, surrounded by the choicest
specimens Of each, continued to live
His summers for the last several years
have been spent at Newport. His villa
there has become almost proverbial for
it magnifcence, and all the proPEieties
of high life were observed, of which
he was, undoubtedly, discriminating
judge.
Mr. Winans spent large portion oil
his time in trying experiments. His
efforts in this direction were first turned
TO ventilation. With the view of devel-
oping the proper theory much expense
was Incurred in the purchase of neces-
sary instruments. Even buildings were
erected. Among them was brick tow
er, one hundred feet high. The floors
of some ofthe rooms in his mansion
were pierced with holes, and ventila-
ting apparatus were placed on either
side. Several years ago he began the
construction of monster organ. Ii was
to have cost 500, 600. A building was
erected especially for the purpose, and
the work begun. but, after few years,
abandoned. A similar instrument was
TO have been built at Newport, but il
was never completed. A magnificent
concert hall, however, was built in his
mansion in Baltimore, and in the Gen.
ire ofhis grounds was made skating rink.
Few have forgotten his experiment
with the cigar shaped steamer in 1883
| She was made with an iron hull, and is
vessel ship-rigged. A trial trip de-
monstrated that she was q failure. She
now lies at Winan's wharf, South Balti-
more, a rusting and rotten hulk.
Another invention Of Mr.. Winans' was
a patent obtained for "notching" the
tires of carriage wheels, by which We
hicles could be readily turned out OF a
railroad track with IMMUNITY. In all Of
these experiments he was greatly inter.
ested, as was he IN all that pertained to
mechanical and scientific pursuits. He
was TO be found in his workshop daily.
With his apron and hammer and Other
utensils, he placed upon practical ba.
sis that into which many only theoreti.
cally examine, and thus kept alive in
regard TO al questions included within
the limits of his profession. He was
fond of fine horses, and only about {
year ago purchased in New York Z
| splendid Russian team which attracted
much attention afterwards in Balti
more.
Mr.. Winans lived secluded life, and
was little concerned with either local o.
national events. Some years ago hi:
happiness suffered severe shock in the
death of his wife, to whom he was ten.
! derly attached. He was in his temper
and disposition genial, hcspitable ana
conviyIal, and never failed 10 secure tbs
affections Of those who were admitted
to his intimacy. His health has beer