Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-09-04
4 BLIND sHIPBUILDER.
John II. HerreshOts, the Celebrated
Designer and Constructor and HIS
Work in Ellis PrnreastOI.

John u. HerreshOEE, the Celebrated
| Designer and Constructor and HaIs
Work in Ellis Profession.
Boston Journal of Commerce.
| The most notaol3 blind man now living
is John b. Herreshoff He lives at Bris-
tol, II. l., and is at the head of one Of
the largest shipbuilding firms in the
United States. lie has been blind since
his 18th year, bat he hiss designed aud
superintended the construction of some
OF the finest steam yachts now eaoat. SO
completely is lie the matter even OF the
smallest details of his vast business thai
when the representative OF South
American government called upon him
| few years ago and asked for what sum he
could build and deliver three torpedo
boats Of peculiar sizs and pattern, he
requested only half an hours time for
delibaration before giving his answer.
Before the half hour was up he had
mentally gone ovor the whole matter,
cost OF building and the time that would
be required working from the new and
strange plans submitted, and be had de.
cided at what price he would be justified
in taking the contract His offer was ac.
cspted, the boats were built and delivered
at the timo stipulated, aud Herrashoff
Brothers made a handsome profit from
the contract.
This incident, one OF many which
might be quoted, remarks q contemporary.
only goes to show what sort OF mRn is
John B. Herreshod, 7, the blind shipbuilder.
Not since he was boy has ne been able
to SEQ the graceful outlines of the ships
and seLooners which plow the blue waters
In sight of which he was born, but he
carries perfect picture Of each and
every one OF them in his memory, and II
is this gallery that lie draws upon in de-
vising the plans which have made his
name familiar one to Bhipownerh ip all
parts of the world. So thoroughly has
be trained all his mental faculties to bear
upon his life work that when descrip-
tion of piece of machinery is read to
him he can ut once point out its merits
and defects, while so fine and true is his
sense of feeling that by merely running
his fingers over the lines of design no
can gein as accurate an idea of it as
though he saw il.
But John b. Herreshon is moro than
skillful designer OF swift and beautiful
sailing vessels and steam yachts. He is
also man OF great executive ability. He
looks carefully after the financial sffairs
OF his firm, and personally supsrintends
every department Of q plant employing
hundreds of men. A visitor, ignorant of
his misfortune, seeing him seated in his
Office, debating letters and receiving re-
ports, or strolling uoguided about lis
shipyard giving directions to his fore
mon, would never suspect that he was
blind. He possesses all the requisites OF
great inventor-some of his conceptions
have done much during the last 20 years
to revolutionizs ship5uilding-and OF
great captain OF industry. But for his
blindness John b. Herrashoff would leave
as deep and enduring a mark upon the
history Of his chosen calling as did the
late John Ericsson. AS il is, he is the
most remarkable member OF Oh axsraor-
diuAry family which three generations OF
ability and skill have made iliustrious.