American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-06-29

quainted Himself with American Ship
building.
From the New York Times.l
An incident, quite peculiar of its kind,
but essentially Russian in character, has
just come to light, which has become
the leading gossip in Philadelphia. Some
fifteen months ago, a workman, speak
ing English fluently, with but slight
foreign accent, applied for position as
a machinist in one of the largest shops
in Wilmington, Del, where marine en-
gines and iron hulls are built. There
being stress of work just at the time,
the intelligent appearance of the me-
chanic secured him a position in the shop.
Every day the new employee was to be
seen at the workbench prosecuting his
labors. A planing-machine was placed
soon under his charge, and he displayed
SO much skill and judgment in the tasks
allotted to him that work requiring the
greatest exactness was soon confided to
the foreigners care. The man was re-
markably quiet and Industrious, and
though reticent was universally liked by
the American machinists. He lodged in
a boarding house with his fellow-crafts-
men. After remaining in the principal
shop in Wilmington for some three
months, one day the man drew his wa
ges and left for Chester, Del, where,
furnished with letters of Introduction
from the superintendent of the Whining
ton shop to the boss in Chester, he
soon found new position. In Chester
he remained some four months, and was
employed in riveting the iron hulls and
in bending the plates. His superior in
telligence soon commended him to a
higher position, which he seemed anx-
ious to occupy. This was in the draft
ing-room, where the hulls were design
ed. In this new occupation his skill
was instantly remarked. At Chester he
remained some six months, when he left
quite suddenly and repaired to Phila-
delphia. Here the foreign workman en-
deavored to enter into the largest loco
motive factory in the world, but his re-
quest was at first refused. How he man.
aged to get footing in the Philadelphia
some private influence, never can be
known. Suffice it to say, the foreign
workman, who was so proficient in con-
structing marine engines and iron YES
sells, and who was y capital draughts-
man, was now employed in the construc-
ton of locomotives Mt Baldwin's, on
Broad Street, Philadelphia. Placed first
as Il helper in the FORCES, it was found
he had the skill of Il master smith. 1t
was not very long before his worth was
appreciated, and Il higher class of ma
chine work was put in his hands. Still
the same restiessness was manifested on
the part of the workman, who one day
left, with wages unclaimed, and was
next traced to Baltimore, thence to New
York, and then back again to Whining
ton.
Now, when the Russian Government
commenced making purchases of ships
and machinery in the United States,
some months ago, persons owning steam
vessels were somewhat surprised at the
perfect knowledge the Russians had of
all the ships offered them. The secret
was soon disclosed. Principals of large
shops in Philadelphia, Wilmington and
Chester were thrown directly in com
with fine-looking Russian
Post Captain, speaking English fiuently,
who recalled to them the workman who
had received their wages. The Captain,
q thorough, practical workman, and at