, 1888-03-14


A very interesting figure in national af-
fairs Just now is Congressman 'Bill'
Scott, of Erie, Pa. A correspondent of
the st. Louis Globe Democrat writing Of
him says:
Mr.. Scott has succeeded to the place
in President CleveIand's affections once
held by Dan Manning, and the president
makes no move without first consulting
him. He is a constant visitor at the
white house, and he performs many and
varied missionary labors. In appearance
he is slender and of medium height. His
head is large and well poised. His eyes
are gray and deep set. A thick mustache
covers a firm mouth. His face is strong
and intellectual looking. He dresses in
fashionably cut clothing, usually in a sack
coat and loose trousers. When in CONVEX
sation his face is animated. He listens to
every word uttered, and replies in short,
sharp sentences. He is a most agreeable
correspondent, and is once of the best in
formed politicians in the country.
Scott's career has been most rcmarka-
bic. 1t reads like a romance. He is not
quite GO years of age, is one of the wealth
lest men in the land, employs 10000
workmen, might have had a seat in the
cabinet if he so desired, yet thirty years
ago he was n fish peddlrc in Erie, Pa.
He was born and reared in poverty, and
frankly saws he knows but very little of
his carly life. When he was in his teens
he was made a page in the house of rep
resentatives. He made many friends.
The member from Eric took a deep in
terest in the little fellow, and when con
gress adjourned for the summer asked
him what he was going TO do.
II don't know" Scott replied, 81
haven't any home or any place to go to. -
And so it came that the kind hearted
congressman took the lad home with him.
He was put to work as a shipping clerk
on the wharves of his employer. who was
at that time one of the principal owners
of the now almost lost shipping of the
western lakes. He worked hard and well.
lie did anything that came to hand from
keeping books to peddling fish. He
studied hard and saved money, and along
about 1850 he got an opportunity to en-
gage for himself IN the shipping business.
Whatever he touched turned to gold.
He iell in love with and married a
wealthy young lady. His wife wa a sis
ter of Frank ID. Tracy, at the time of his
death president of the Chicago, Rock
Island X Pacific railroad. Tracy helped
his brother in-law to make valuable friends
among the solid men of Gotham. He
became acquainted with Samuel j. Tildcn
when that willy old man was making his
fortune in railroads, and the friendship
lasted until Tilden's death. The late
Commodore Vanderbilt also took a deep
interest in his welfare, and let HIM into
more than one big transaction on the
ground floor. He became interested in
the manufacture of iron and the mining
of coal, az well as the construction Of rail.
roads. He owns anthracite mines in
Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and ms
either president or director he controls
over D. 900 miles of railroad, probably the
largest number of miles managed by one
man in the world.
Ia Erie he lives in regal style. He
WINS a large, magnificent mansion, sur.
rounded by all that good taste can suggest
and money purchase. For years he
owned one of the best racing stables in
the world, but OF late he has given up
racing. He is fond of a good horse,
however, and delights in driving. In
Washington Mr.. Scott and his family
cut a wide swath, and when in New Y ork,
where by the way they come very often,
the finest suite of rooms in the Fifth Az
enue hotel is placed at their disposal.
He has two daughters who are happily
married and who entertain on a large
scale.