Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-18
A COLORED MAN OF FAME.
George A. Butler, Chief of "A Chinese
Navigation Company.
FROM The Ne1p YORK World.

From the Ne1O York World.
Seven pairs of Paris-made shoes-No.
5s-stood in shiny row yesterday in
room 4S of the Hoffman House. There were
ties, there We're pumps and there wer e
patent leather slippereenes, and they
looked like they were drawn up at "pre-
sent arms" 10 the callers. Above his
shiny shoes stood a tall, flne-lookIng man
with a skin as black as ebony, a square
forehead and moustache and goatee like
a French Colonel. Pulling upon a fragrant
cigar, he smiled automatically upon a
reporter as he begged to be excused from
an interview, then laughed gleefully &c
think that he had been living in cog. al
the Hoffman ever since last Saturday
and not a newspaper had discovered his
identity until the World at last had run
him down.
II almost escaped" he said, laughing,
''for tomorrow l hope to be of TO Wash
ington."
George A. Butler, the owner of the
CorporaPs guard in the shoe leather, is
! one of the remarkable colored men of the
generation. For years he has been living
between China and Europe, his latest
public appearance in Paris being as the
private secretary of the Marquis lseng,
the Chinese Am basaador to Paris. He is
rich and accomplished, and can rattle of
French. German, Italian, Chinese aud
one or two other languages like a native.
1t is believed that he visits the United
States with an important mission from
the Chinese government, but on this point
he is silent as graVestone.
81 am engaged on private business"
he said, ''nothjng tor The newspapers TO
ask about, and | shall hurry back TO Eu-
rope. | reached here on the Traave last
Saturday for a ten days stay. | have
kept very quiet, but thought the papers
would catch me when was out with M
Bartholdi," and MIR. Butler smiled with
glee. He added that he had not been in
this his native country for thirty-tive
years. Though Pm supposed to be liv-
ing in Europe" he added, looking at his
leather trunks, 81 am living in my boxes
pretty much of the time. | have not been
IN the same place for two consecutive
months in AS many years"
A story has been Told Of Mr.. Buffers
connection with the China Merchanl s.
Navigation Company, which is Of interest
as showing that a Colored manager eau
make great success where Chinese
brains were no good. The prime mover
in the scheme was supposed to be Ii
Hung Chang, who was then ana long af-
bGl W ttlOB OllS Vi Tue IEObI prominent men
In the empire. He was rich and it was
supposed that he owned the greater part
fthe stock. The rest of the stock was
subscribed by maudarins, which caused
the organization 20 be called the Manda-
rims Steamship Company. They began
with several advantages, chief OF which
was the carrying of the tribute rice from
the various points on the great rivers az d
on the coast, where it was collected, to
Pekin. The quantity is imme nse, and
the price paid for its transport
tation being regulated by Ii
flung Chang on behalf of both
the government and the COM
pany was favorable to the
latter. The company at first telt kind
OF childish vanity in its newly acquired
Importance. 1t was determined that no
foreigner should be employed in any
prominent position. Tong King sing,
one of the most enlightened aud liberal
men in the empire, was the first to realize
the necessity OF foreign assistance IN the
management. Ii was appealed to, a I'd
finally consented that George A. Butler
should be appointed manager nOminally
under the direction OF three Chinese d.
rectors. The result was that the stock,
which was at 40 per cent. discount, went
up to 100 per cent. premium. The first
year after the change the COMPANY made
1000, 900, and the second and third years
seYerally about $S00,000. This inclUded
the three years from some time in 1879 TO
some time in 1882, when Tong King Sing,
accompanied by his manager, went on a
missioo to Brazil.
Mr.. Buffers career has been romantic.
lie was the son OF a cOiored CLERGYMAN in
WashingtOn, and was sent 10 France and
Germany to be educated, where be i'm
,raI Ia
master OF French, German and Italian,
which he speaks with fuency. He mas
also acquired a general knowledge OF
several other tongues. He attracted the
attention OF Arson BuriinQame, whn
took him to CHINA as his pr Va'e socre-
tary. He renamed in emma after MIR.
Burlingame's return, and went into the
employ OF Russell 81 Co., where he re-
manned until 1879, holding a position OF
Importance and being greatly re-
sDected. While SUPERINTENDENT of
the China Merchants Company
he had almost sole control under
Tong King Sing, tue chIet executive.
After be went with his cuief to Europe
the company fell entirely into the hands
of natives, by whom it was brought TO
the verge OF bankruptcy. The Brazilian
visit was to further the following scheme :
The company cO1temrla, ed building
several steamers OF 1000 tons burden,
which should go round the Cape of G, oil
Hope 10 Brazil, stopping at Nautilus
and Senegal on the way. They were to
take emigrants from China to Brazil, a
cargo OF Brazilian products from Rio
Janeiro to New York, and return thence
by Suez, bringing such lading as suited
the Chinese market. While in Portugal
news came OF disasters to the company,
and the two ENJOYS FASTENED home,