Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-09-21

| tients bedside oil night. lie could not
hold out any hope from the time of his ar
rival.
From Poverty TO Wealth.
The story Of the life of Congressman
william l.. Scott Of Pennsylvania par
lakes somewhat Of the romantic. Not so
very many years ago he was a penniless
man, gaining his livelihood by peddling
Ash about the streets Of Erie. At the time
If his death he was reported TO be worth
k0, 100000 and the employer of thousands
VI men.
II has been stated upon his own author
lty that he knew very little about his birth
and the first years of his life. He was the
son of colonel In the regular army,
Virginian by birth and education, though
resident In Washington at the time young
Scott was born 10 1929. Both Colonel
Scott and his wife died when their son was
yet mere lad. They were in poor circum-
stances, and the boy was turned out In the
world to shift for himself.
| The first of his numerous occupations
that he could remember was when, carly
In his teens, he found himself page in
the house of representatives. He was popu-
lar with the members, obliging and polite
ln bis manner, and made many friends
| among the congressman. Mr.. Reed, who
| then represented the Erie district In the
house. took great interest In the bright
little fellow, and toward the end Of the
session he asked him II he wouldn't like to
90 home with him. Having nowhere else
| 10 90 when congress adjourned, Scott COM
piled, and was put TO work as shipping
clerk on the wharves Of his employer, who
was at that time one Of the principal own
srs Of the now almost vanishing shipping
Of the great lakes.
For the next few years tho youth
worked at number Of things. lie was q
clerk, peddled fish, tramped, and did ev-
erything that he could get to do. At last
he returned TO Erie and commerce, and In
1850, when he was but % years old, he was
In the coal and shipping business, owning
and running several vessels on the great
| lakes
From this time on the story of his life Is
| not greatly unlike that Of other successful
| business men,
| BY his marriage Mr.. Scott got consider
able property, but he also got something
far more valuable, good, helpful
wife, and an introduction into tho stock
exchange. Here no became acquainted
with Samuel J. Tilden, Mr.. Vanderbilt
the elder. and other wealthy magnates of
Gotham. They were quick to recognize
his ability as n tluancier and manager and
| from this time
His Upward Progress Was Rapid.
He became interested in the manufacture
of iron and the mining of coal, as we'll as
the construction and operation OF rail
roads. He owned anthracite mines In his
adopted state and bituminous in West Vir-
ginia. and, as either president or director.
he was said TO coptrol over 2,0o0 miles Of
railroad, probably the largest number Of
miles managed by one man in the world.
| In 1868 Mr.. Scott's name was first prom
inently mentioned In connection with poll
tics, and then, as at the time Of his death,
he was Democrat In that year he was
| district delegate TO the national Demo
cratic convention held In New York. He
was delegate at large from Pennsyl-
vania, in the Democratic national conven-
ton Of 1880, and also represented his state
on the national Democratic committee
from 1876 to 1884. The many local honors
that Mr.. Scott received included his cleo
ton as mayor of Eric In 1865. and again In
1871
DHe was elected 70 the Forty-ninth con-
pent Republicans IA we'll as by votes of his
|
Mr. Scott was the richest man in the
house Of representatives while he served
In congress.
Mr. Scott gave some OF the best dinners
at the capital often experimenting them
himself, for he was accounted
Among tho Best Amateur Cooks
among the public men In Washington,
although his chef was Jewel.
Mr.. Scott was not q society man him
self, but his wife and daughter were very
fond Of social pleasures, into which they
entered With rare zest, their own enter
tainments being given with all the lavish
ness which would naturally become the
establishment OF 80 rich, prominent and
influential a man as he who presided over
the establishment.
When young Scott was page In the
Twenty ninth congress-. Arthur p. Cor
man Of Maryland was performing SINH
lar duty In the senate. Forty years after
ward, when the election OF Cleveland was
assured, these two celebrated the long and
anxiously awaited Democratic victoy by
Delmonico dinner, which the six invited
guests long after spoke Of as one Of the
most perfectly arranged and served din
ners they had ever attended.
He was always warm friend Of Mr..
Tilden. aud thought he should have been
nominated In 1850 instead OF General Han
cock, though he spent 1900 10 help the
latter iu that campaign.
| Mr. Scott was 90 extensive farmer, own
ing one Of the largest and best equipped
stock farms 10 Pennsylvania. His horses
we're his especial pride, the list being
headed by famous imported stock.