New-York tribune., 1880-09-26
CAPTAIN EADS'S START IN LIFE.
From rhe October Wide A,cckc.

Last December on the steamship Germanc
played chess with the great civil engineer Captain
lads, stimulated by the Thought that 70 beat him
10 defeat the mIn who had twice conquered the
Mississippi. But didn't defeat him.
James B. Eads was born ID Indiana ~ 1920. Hs
is slender in FORM neat IN dress genial, courteous.
started down the Ohio River with his ffmiiy. pro-
posing to settle in Wisconsin. The boat caught
fire and his sca1ty furniture and clothing were
burned. Young Eads barely escaped ashore with
bis pantaloons, shirt and cap. Taxing passage on
another boat this boy of thirteen larcrd nc st.
Louis with mis- parents his little bare feet first touch
ing the rocky sbOre of the city On the very spot
where he afterward located and built the largest
steel bridge in the world, over the Miss SsippI-one
OF the most difficult teats or engineering ever per-
formed III America.
Al The aye of nine young Eads made short trip
on the ONO, when the engineer OF the steamboat
explained 10 him clearly the construction N tLs
steam engine that before be was a wear older he
bullG little working model OF IT, SO perfect IN lis
parts and movements. taat his schoolmates woud
frequently go home with him after school TO see 70
work. A locomotive en- zine. driven by concealed
of his next Juvenile feats In mechanical
engineering. From eight To thirteen he attended
school after which from necessity be was placed
as clerk IN dry goods store.
Over the store III ST. Lous where he was en-
gagged his employer lived. He was an Old bachelor.
and having observed The. tastes of his clerk. gave
him his first book engineering. The old gentle
mans library furnished evening compabio9 for
him during the five years he WAS thus employed.
Finally, his health failing at the age OF DIne cen.
he went on MissIssippi River steamer from which
time 70 the present aay suat great rscr as been 10
him on all-absOrbing study.
Soon afterward he formed a partnership with a
friend and but small boat To raise cargJe5 OF yts-
sels sunken in the Mississippi. While thi boat WIS
building. he made his rst venture IL bmar.ne
gIneerng. the lower rapids OF the rlycr, by tue
recovery of several hundred ions OF lead. lie Ared
a scow hat-boat and anchored It over the wreck.
An experienced diver clad IN armnr who had been
hired considera biz expense IN Buffalo, lowered
into the water; but tie rapids were swift that ti
diver, thoug encascd IN the strong arm0r feared 20
be sunk Co the bottom. Young Ea,ls. determined 10
succeed, and finding it impraeuca0ie to Use ths
armOr, went ashore. purchased "A whIsNey barrel
knocked out the head. attached the alr.pHmp Ia 80
TO il, fastened several heavy weights TO shc open
end OF the barrel-then swinging IL on derrick ne
had q practical diving bell: the best use l ever
heard made OF a whiskey barrel.
Neither the diver nor any of the crew would 20
down INTO this contrvance, so the dauDtless young
engineer having full confidence IN what he had
read in books was lowered within the barrel down
to the bottom, the lower end OF tbe barrel beng
open. The water was sixteen feet deep, aud very
swift Finding the wreck he remained By &c q full
hour. htching ropes 10 pug lead till ton or moro
was safely hoisted into his own boat. Then making
q signal by small line attached TO the barrel, hs
lifted OH deck and IN command again. The
suken cargo successfully raised aud was
sod and netted u handsome profit. wi hicb Increased
by other successes. enabled energetic Eads to build
larger boats with powerful pumps and machinery
on them tor liftIng entire vessels