The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-15

shire. Scotland, tho son Of u fisherman
When a lad of 10 ho left home ant
went to Manchester. There for tw'
years he worked as a carpenter, ant
helped to build one Of the first railroad
bridges, seven miles from Manchester
IN the fall of l84G he sailed as a passen
ger on board the Orphan, from Liver
pool Tor New York. When the vesse
was l.4OO miles out from Liverpool
having been beaten entirely out of hel
course to northward by Il tremendous
mead wind, she was dismasted and had
10 put back to the Irish Channel. There
again she collMed with another vessel
ana had TO seek shelter in Carrickfer-
gus Bay, on tho west coast of Ireland,
none Oh The 275 passengers having been
| osC,however. She went back to Liver.
pool under jury mast. Again young
Iialket embarked, but this time on the
olo packet ship Rappallannock, the big
gest craft, sail or steam, in the world at
that tlme. The voyage to New York
lasted iorty-0ne days, and when he ar
riVed III New York times were very
SLACK and the young Scotchman went
pack home again Oh board vessel as
Shlp'S carpenter. In the same capaci-
ty ne made Il trip to New Orleans, the
passage taking eight weeks. From
Ciiere ne went up the river to st. Louis,
at That time the spring Of 1S47, Il town
OIL OIL 2o,0oo, and stayed there until 1913.
1hen ne came to Chicago, but he could
not stand the severe winter and return
ca to st. Louis. lie helped to build
Ihe snip Matilda, which was intended
as passenger ship for San Francisco.
frcnch and the other owners of the
Matilda getting into financial troubles
inc vessel was sold. Mr. IIalket then
made several trips as ship carpenter, be-
tween Now Orleans and Liverpool, on
Cile James Brown, of Boston, and on
inc Josiah Bradley. In the fall of 1859
he Settled III Chicago anu has remained
ever since, with the exception Of few
cflpS up and down tho Mississippi, on
board the Great Western and the Mcln-
phis.
In Chicago Mr.. IIalkct has deyoted
his energies exclusively to shin carDon-
tering and to the making and putting
up Of flag poles, artcsian well buring'
poles and tenders. lie enjoys Il virtual
monopoly Of the flag pole business, bo-
ing the only one in Chicago who carries
IT. on. lie keeps a stock of about 100
flagstaffs Of all sizes, VARYING in nrico
between $40 and $3.50. Since the big
llro ho has put up about 100 flag poles
on roofs, nearly every one of the big |
ones being his make. Not ono of them
has come down yet, despite storms, rain.
and lightning. Spruce is exclusively
used for flag poles. 1t comes from tho |
Lake Superior region, and must bt |
light, rough, staight and supple. Green |
timber is preferred, 50 that ho can sea-
son it himself. Tho putting in of a
BIG ! flag polo requires nerve. skill, ~
through Il hole in the roof often extend
ing to the floor below, and it is tLen
Fastened tight with pitch or braced up
with scanUling or iron. No accident
has over occurred in the putting in of
his poles, though there havo been Il
good many narrow escapes when the
dcrricks were too short or the pole was
not Woll guyed and tumblcd down. In
putting up Il now flag pole on tho
Tribune building recently shutter was
unhingcd i'll hosting up the pole. 1t
fell lnto tho alley, but injured nobody.
AS to the danger Of tho wind blowing
down ilagstatfs, Mr.. IIalket says that
is not nearly so great us people suppose.
The pole being round and smooth, and
Offering no resistance to the blast. tho
wind glides past it.