The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-23
SOME NOTED BLIND MEN.
SUCCESS ACHIEVED IN SPITE OF
MISFORTUNE.

Francisco EOlltlClSn - n WEI SAeA
Who Conducts Bis Business With
out Clerical Assistance - Mlburn
the Blind Preacher - Our Fastest
Steam Yachts Designed by a Mar
Without Eyesight-
From the Ner0 York Star.
/ was standing in the lobby of the South
ern hotel in St. Louis one day in November
last The silver mems convention was ther
in session IN St Louis, and the parlors and
louncing rooms of the hotel were crowded
with deleg ates and strangers. a tall, gray
haired man, of dignlfed and stately bear
ing. came in, leaning on the arm Of youth
full companion, and at once became the
center of an animated group who crowded
about to shake his hand and exchange greet
ings with him. Only the closest observer
would have OWNED from the newcomers
movement that he was blind. His face was
a striking one, strong and clean-cut and
carved with deep lines of thought. Irec)g-
nized it at a glance, though had seen it on
but one previous occasion. That occasion
was the stormy and tumultuous republican
national convention held at Chicago in the
month OF June, 1884. The owner of
the striking face had then, under
conditions that put to the fullest test an
orators powers, for half an hour swaYed
a great audience of ten thousand pep
pie at his will, as in a speech memorable
for its eloquence and dignity he placed
James G. Blaine in nomination for the
presidency. He was Judge William H.
West, the blind orator, who, by reason of
his physical Affections, his exalted character
and superb mental endowments, has long
been one of the most picturesque and az
-, Il,
Ohio bar. Though blind from birth, Judge
West is a ripe scholar, his abilities as a
lawyer are of the highest order, and his
powers of oratory recall the best traditions
of the American forum. Arepublicau con-
vention in Ohio without Judge West pre-
siding as chairman or present as delegate
would be considered sadly Incomplete He
has held a number of public positions and
served on the bench with distinction and
honor No one is better known than he to
the people of his state. and his services as
campaign speaker are always in demand.
He resides at Bellefontaine, where though
now well advanced in years. he is still &C
lively engaged in the practice of his pro
fessiOn, possessing q large and lucrative
clientage. He has a beautiful home at
Bsllefontaine, and an interesting family
whom he has never seen and never will. In
private Judge West is one of the most
genial and companionable men, apparently
content with his hard lot. His life is a
striking refutation Of the popular belief
that blindness debars a man from a life of
usefulness and honor.
~
Another remarkable blind man is William
E. Cramer, who for forty-two years has
been the editor and proprietor of the EUen-
lng Wisconsin, a daily paper published 10
Milwaukee. A coaSting accident. which
befell MIN when a boy in New England,
rendered him both blind and deaf, but these
drawbacks have not prevented him from
carving out brilliant and remarkably sue
cessful career. He is one of the best
equipped newspaper men in the country.
He began editorial work in Albany in 1913,
where he was the intimate and trusted friend
of Thurlow Weed, Horace Greeley and
Henry j. Raymond. He went to Milwaukee
in lS47, and by his own efforts has built UP
the journal over which he presides from
humble beginnings to one of the best pay
ing newspaper properties in the northwest.
Cramer is a man of splendid attainments
He graduated from Union College and
studied law before he went into newspaper
work. He owns one of the finest private
Libraries in Milwaukee, and he is acquainted
with the contents of every volume which it
contains. In the discharge of his editorial
duties, though now 73-he was born at
Waterford, n. Y, in 1S17-he is as
enthusiastic and untiring as a man of
so. He daily dictates several columns
of editorial matter to a stenographer, and
has done so for many years. By the aid of
an audiphone all the leading journals of
the country and read to him every day, and
in this way he keeps abreast with the prog
ress of public opinion and events in all
parts of the world. Mr.. Cramer has been
a great traveller. With his wife, his con-
slant companion, he gas visited all portions
IF he M do. II
to Mexico and Central America, and made
several trips to Europe. He was in Paris
during the Franco-Prussian war, and was
one of the foreigners who, locked up in the
beleaguered, city, were compelled to subsist
for weeks upon mule meat. 1t Is probable
the blind editor knows mora about the
lands he has visited than half tne men
who can see and who have been over
the same ground. Like Chris Buckley, Mr..
Cramer dresses neatly and elegantly. He
goes about Milwaukee unattended, making
his way with ease TO all parts of the city,
and there is no figure more familiar to the
people of the town than that of ''Unclc
Billy" Cramer. He boarded at the Newha
house in Milwaukee from the time it Opened
until it burned, six years ago. On the nigh
it burned he was one of the last to leave tn,
famous hostelry, sustaining injuries which
it was feared for time would prove fatal
But he has since fully recovered, and is nov
vigorous in mind and body, bidding fair tC
live for many years to come.
~
Youngstown, O., also has a blind edito
in the person of Walter L. Campbell, who
though still a comparatively young man
has been signally successful as a lawyer
journalist and political reformer. MIR
Campbell was born in Salem, OHIO, forty.
eight years ago. His father, preacher
died before he was born. A stone throw
by playmate when he was five years oil,
hit him in the left eye. Inflammation fol
lowed and he became totally blind in bot
eyes. When a lad of nine he was placed il
the Columbus Institute for the Blind, wher
he made wonderful progress IN his studies
showing an especial aptitude for music II
completed his musical education in tn
School for the Blind in Philade
phia, where Blaine was once
teacher, and then taught music in his ne
tive place while fitting himself for college
With the money earned as music teache
he went through the Western Reserve Col
lege, distinguishing himself as a classica
scholar and graduating at the head of hi
class. He then studied law and passe
through the Harvard law school. In schoC
and in his law studies it was his practice t
have fellow student read over to him sew
eral times the chapter or paragraph whic
he desired to master. singularly tenaciou
memory easily enabling him to absorb an