The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-04-02
MARTINS QUEST.
4 Search Among Dusty Tones of
the Mercantile Library.
The Troubles Of an Inventor and His Backer
Solved by Lucky Hint in an Aus
tralian Publication.

In glancipg over the obituary column of
a morning paper Tuesday a CALLrepOrter
saw the name Of S. b. Martin. 1t brought
to his recollection II curious incident in his
career that happened many years ago and
may bear telling, as it shows how some men
achieve fortune by picking Up information
IN unexpected quarters,
At the time mentioned the reporter was
connected with the Mercantile Library of
this city. His chief duty was to index the
daily accessions and to enter them in a
large book by numbers. For this work he
was assigned a desk in a large room in the
rear OF the building that was filed with a
miscellaneous collection of State pubIca-
tions, legal volumes aud Patent Office
reports. The books were seldom consulted
and were covered with the dust of years.
One day while engaged in his routine
work an elderly gentleman came to the
reporters desk and asked if he might browse
among the books. He was not member of
the association but if permitted he would
give the attendants No ouble.
BECAME A CONSTANT VISITOR.
The reporter knowing the gentleman
to be S. B. Martin, prosperous
farmer of Alameda County. and with
plenty of spare time on his hands
thought it strange that he should take a
freak to waste his time in such gloomy
place, but he referred the matter to the
librarian, who gave his consent, From that
time on for weeks Mr.. Martin was con-
slant visitor to that particular room OF the
library.
He seemed at first to nave no particular
design in selecting his books, but finally was
noticed 10 be deeply interested in one large
book bound in white canvas. After some
time spent IN consulting 1t MI Martin at
length asked if he cOuld take the book to
his room. II was one Of the Government
publications of New South Wales that had
been sent to the library by ii gentleman VIII o
had received some slight courtesy while visit
ing the city.
BECAME A MENIBEB.
Although contrary to strict rules, the re-
porter stretched a point, and Mr.. Martin
took the volume away, He returned it in a
few days to the desk and then quietly ex-
pressed his thanks for the kindness shown
him. Before leaving, however, he inquired
the price of a life membership. When told
it would cost him $780, lie quietly laid down
the money and asked that a certificate be
made out and sent to his Office.
This buSiness-like operation closed Mr..
Martins visits to the library, and it was not
till months after that the real nature OF bis
interest in that particular book was make
known to the reporter. He was walking
about town when lie met queer character
he had known years before TO b. an in
ventor. He seemed to be IN good condition
physically, and his clothing was neat and
new.
After some general talk about old times.
the inventor was asked how the world used
him and what he was driving at. He said
he was finishing up work on patent ice
machine that had kept him busy for long
X "a n
ventOr's finances the reporter asked him
how he managed to get money for carrying
on such expensive experiments for 50 long
time.