Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-27

mines, weighs the coal before it is deliver
ed, collects and receipts the bills of his
several hundred customers and posts and
typewriter, and his work equals in
neatness ard exactness that of the most
skillful copyist. Mr.. Hays is trained
years has been the organist of the Pre.by-
terrain church of his town. Before the coal
business grew so large as to occupy his en-
tire time and attention he taught music
with gre at success. Blind people need not
be helpless or miserable, said Mr.. Hays
a short time ago. Il am perfectly con-
tented with my lot, and my home and Of
nee are as happy places as can oe found in
the country"
The most notable blind man now living
yet remains to be spoken of. His name is
John b. Herreshoff. He lives at Bristol.
b. l.. and he is at the head of one of
the largest shipbuilding firms in the
United States He has been blind since
his fifteenth year, but he has designed and
superlntended the construction Of some of
the finest steam yachts now ahoat So
completely Is he the master even Of the
smallest details of his vast business. that
when the representative of South Ameri-
can government called upon him a few
years ago, and asked for what sum he
could build and deliver three torpedo
boats of peculiar size and pattern, he re-
quested only half an hours time for de-
liberation before giving his answer Be-
tore the half hour was up he had mentally
gone over the whole matter, cost of build
ing and the time that would be required,
working from the new and strange plans
submitted, and had decided at what price
he would be justified in taking the contract.
His offer was accepted, the boats were
built and delivered at the time stipulated.
and Herreshoff Brothers made handsome
profit from the contract. This incident,
one of many which might be quoted, only
goes to show what sort of man is John B.
Herreshotf, the blind shipbuilder. Not
since hewas boy has he been able to see
the graceful outlines of the ships and
schooners which piow the blue waters in
sight of where he was born, but he car
ries d perfect picture of each and every
one OF them IN his memory and it is this
gallery that he draws upon in devising the
plans which have made his name famil-
lar one to ship owners in all parts of the
world. So thoroughly has he trained all
his mental faculties to bear upon his life
work that when description of piece of
machinery is read to him he can at once
point out its merits and defects; while so
fine and true is his sense of feeling that
by merel y running his fingers over the
lines of design he can gain as accurate
an idea of it as though he saw it. But
John B. Herreshoff is more than skillful
designer of swift and beautiful sailing
vessels and steam yachts. He is also MAN
of great executive ability. He looks care
fully after the financial affairs of his firm,
and personally superintends every depart
ment of plant employing hundreds of
men. A visitor, ignorant of his misfor-
tune, seeing him seated in his office die
tating letters and receiving reports, or
strolling unguided about his shipyards
giving directions to his foreman, would
never suspect that he was blind He
possesses all the requisites of great in
ventor-some of his conceptions have done
much during the last twenty years to revo-
lutionize shipbuilding = and Of great
captain of industry. But for his blind
ness John B. Herreshoff would leave as
deep and enduring mark upon the his
tory of his chosen calling as did the late
John Ericsson. AS it is, he is the most
remarkable member OF an extraordinary
family which three generations of ability
and skill have made illustrious
RUFUS R. WILSON.