The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-01
tons that have
one Of her highesr
A LIES SAD STORY.
The Career OF M. d. Babcock-Doctor-
Merchant-Inventor.

Merchant-ln Inventor.
From the New York Herald
A dispatch from San Francisco ann
nOunces the death there of Nj. ID. Babll
cock, the inventor OF the fire oxtinguish-|
ing apparatus which bears his name.
He was one OF those peculiar men-or]
geniuses-who during their lifetime rel
peatedly make fortune after fortune and|
Just as frequently lose them. Several
times during his eyentiul career Mr.. Bah
cock had been reduced from position of
great afiuence to beggary; at last from|
yeggary to the condition OF an absolutoI
pauper and us such he died in the aims
house at San Francisco on Saturday last !
oi which institution he had been an in
mate, oil and on, for five or six years.
He was man of fine education, col
| lege graduate; but no matter, how much
success or prosperity he met with IN bus
ness, was confirmed believer in what
termed "luck," and even in his palmies)
days firmly believed that misfortune, del
| spite all his efforLS would ultimately Overt
take him. And it lid.
NJ. ID. Babcock was born mt Rochester,
N. Y, in the fall OF 1917. When he was|
but five years Of age his father removed
with his family TO Ohio and settled on s
farm near Mount Vernon. Ten yeari
later his father became prosperous
merchant in Mansfield, o., and young
Babcock was sent to the Pennsylvania unit
versity, from which he graduated as q
doctor Of medicine the year that he reached
| his majority.
He did not, at the outset Of his care
follow his profession. but entered il
| partnership with his father. and ope<T
| Oh In nd ttu s.f -
had full charge. In 1916 he diss5f
partnership with his father and went L
| the dry goods business ON his own accou
nj Dayton, D. For while he prosper
and built up an enormous trade, but u
one short summer he lost over so, 900 h
outside speculations. Then revcrsos fcs
lowed in quick succession. and finally lie
became bankrupt.
After his failure he came 10 New York
and secured position us salesman in a
large dry goods house. and at the end OF
the first year had saved 5000. lie re-
manned in this position for another year,
during which time he had managed TO got
considerable money out Of his wrecked
business in Dayton. Then he bought an
interest In his fathers store In lndianapo-
lis, and for the next six years was exceed
ingly successful; but misfortune again
overlook him in a multiplicity OF bank
failures, and his father wound up the bust
ness, saving enough 10 retire 10 farm. All
that young Babcock got out Of the concern
was s., 900 in cash.
About this time he gave full bent 10 bis
iavorite hobby. which was experimenting
with chemicals. The fire extinguisher
which bears his name no invented in 1860,
but could not get II introduced and was
about giving mp in disgust when n repre-
sentative Of the great Chicago manufactur.
ing firm Of Peabody & Go. offered to pur-
chase lease OF Il for ten years. As the
terms were g, 900 year for that period he
gladly accepted and Immediately pulled
his stakes for California.
His career in California from first 20 last
WINS varied in the extreme. He bought
out small hotel in San Francisco. and al
the end OF two years was completely burned
out. After this he specialized for awhile
In town lots at Oakland, and later started
general merchandise store In PetaluV@
and Mt tho end OF three years was 40
bankrupt and cleaned out OF everythiA
Soon after this he received his annuiu
on his fire extinguisher aud again hc VIZ
into the land speculation and met viii
much success. About this time his wild
died, and as he was apprchensive OF hi
usual bad luck" overriding him again hi
determined TO establish his three Suns and
daughter In comfort for life. lie accord
dinghy purchased for each Of them home
stead In Yamhill, Oro., where they are now
J living. These purchases almost exhausted
his little store, and he started out on Z
romantic sort Of life through Californis
and Oregon.
| "a. .--..i..- - "A III A.. -. to..,;..
and sorrow over tho loss OF his wife caused
him 10 take 10 drink. II was the same
old story over again. lie WINS on the down
ward path and he did not stop until hs
reached the bottom.
Ills annuities he spent In riotous living
and got through them at brcak-ncck speed
Finally these stopped, as the lease had run
, out, and he WINS once more compelled d
depend upon his own resources. lie Al
this time seemed 10 care for nothing bui
liquor. His only thought, he declared in
after years, was nk--drink-drink."
lilo did not seem 10 realize that ho could
have removed the lease on bis invention
and thereby secure n continuation Of the
annuity. He at length became reckless Of
everything, his only desire was for liquor
and 30 satisfy that craving he was willing
wv atNhhnt Jus UlkNttt VI
tense, however, consisted only In getting
drunk, for which lac was repeatedly ar
rested.
Some time during the year 1881 he wa,
arrested In San Francisco Tor being drunk,
and AZ his own request was sent 10 the
, alms-housc, from which he was discharged
. at the end of SIX months. u
His efforts Ia reform woro unayailink
, however, and lac once again sought forget
iulness In the bottle. lie rapidly wen
from bad 10 worse, and was once moro SEN
, 20 the alms-house. lie had meanwhil,
, grown too fond Of his old life, NO this tims
he nan away from the institution AID man
aged to keep clear Of the olicon for many
months.
some time during the year 1885 his con
dition bad become such That he was one,
mor sent 20 the alms-housc, and there M
remained from that day up 10 yesterday
, when he died, alone among sirangr,1
paupcr and a complete wreck OF his iormcI
J self What n terrible, what sad ending
10 q useful lifc-a life that nj one time hnc
been 10 full Of promise, 20 full Of pros
pcriiy, 10 full Of achievement and Of posi-
bili.cd
With his unquestioncd business tact and
his great inventive ability Mr. Babcocs
; might have always rcmained-as lac once
, was-an ornament 10 socicty aud n man O
means. His powers, however, appear q
have been wrongly applied, and a. h,
| grew In years his little ecceniricitiea In
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