The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-02
WELL DESERVED SUCCESS.
Capt. v. E. McBee's Rise from Brakeman
to President-The Almost Phenomal
Railroad Career of Popular
South Carol1nian-

Capt. V. E. McBeeS Rise lrou1 >e'hi'>
to President-The Almost Phenomal
Railroad Career of q Popular
South Carol1nian-
1E.P P. .McKissick, in News and COURIER
NEwBERRY, S. c., March 23.-There
is great deal of talk just now about
the consolidation of the Central Rail-
road of Georgia with the Richmond
and Danville system of South ana
North Carolina. Judging from what
the newspapers say and what you hear
on the railroads there is considerable
grounds for the rumors now current
about this combination. It would be
q powerful combination, and if 1t IS
consummated the coup d'etat of MIR.
Jay Gould, of which there was so much
talk month or so ago in railroad and
newspaper circles, will be doubtless ac-
complished. But what interests the
people of Piedmont Carolina in regard
to this combination is that President
V. E. KcBee, of the Richmond and
Danville system, in this State, and
Superintendent of the Western North
Carolina Railroad of the same system
in North Carolina, will be made gen.
eral superintendent of the combination.
These rumors, whether correct or in
correct, come with great deal of unc-
ton to the souls of the Piedmont peo-
pole. No man is held in higher esteem
than Capt. McBee, and any promotion
that may be gwen him is hailed with
delight.
PRESIDENT V. E. MBEE.
Just at this time it will not be out of
place to give little sketch Of President
McBee--a thing that the South Caro-
lima newspapers have failed to publish
so far. He was born in Greenville, IN
this State, and belongs to the old line
of McBees who have helped to make
the history of this section of the South
so famous in war and in peace His
full name in Vardrey Echols McBee,
and he is now about IS years of age.
He is 8 railroad man in the best accep-
tation of the term, by birth, precepS
and education. HIS father was civil
engineer and railroad man; his grand
father was a civil engineer or "sur-
veyor," as the old people termed it,
and the subject OF the present sketch
has made civil engineering and practi-
cal railroading the special study Of his
life.
His ancestors lived in Lincoln Coun-
ty, North Carolina, during the Revolu-
tionary war, and were distinguished
for their gallantry and bravery during
that momentous struggle. Its related
that one of his uncfes, who was par
ticipant in the terrible fight at Kings
Mountain, is said to have been the man
who killed Col. Ferguson, the comman
der of the British and Tory forces.
This incident, while it is not related in
Mr.. Draper's excellent book, Kings
Mountain and its Heroes" is douo otless
true, for it is sustained by several 14arra-
tives of revolutionary soldiers, btsides
legends and family histories.
The subject of this sketch was edu-
Gated at the Hillsboro Military School
in North Carolina, in Greenville. and
at the Citadel Academy in Charleston.
He did not finish his course ut the
Citadel, however, but entered the war
towards its end while quite a youth
and served through the hardships of
actual warfare until Lees army sur
rendered at Appomattox.
HIS FIRST RAILRoADING.
Some time after the war closed he
got employment as civil engineer and
shortly afterwards secured work IN the
construction of the Atlanta and Char
lotte Air Line Railroad, now leased by
the Richmond and Danville system.
About this time he married Miss Rosa
Brooks, daughter of that gallant Caro-
linian, Preston S. Brooks. The work
he did on the Air Line Railroad was
so satisfactory that he was soon called
to aid in the construction of railroad
in Alabama, and he was engaged in
this work When the panic of 1878 para
lyzed railway development fol some
time. IL fact there was a scarcity for
work as we'll as of money everywhere;
but young McBee's pluck and energy
asserted themselves boldly. He ap-
piled for and was appointed to the dis
tinguished, but not lucrative, POSITION
of brakeman on local freight train.
Col. Foreacre was then in charge of the
transportation department of The At
lanta and Charlotte Road, and Mr..
McBee was given the brakemar's posi-
ton.
MERIT WILL TELL.
Rapidly, and, in fact, almost phe-
he became conductor, then
agent for the Seaboard Air
Line, for the Piedmont Air Line and
agent of the Richmond and Danville
lines then centering in Charlotte. In
all these positions he proved him self
active and efficient. When the panic
ceased and the revival of railway build
ing began, Capt. McBee was requested
to accept the office of superintendent
Of the Western North Carolira Rail-
road from Salisbury to Asheville, then |
comparatively Insignificant, but which
now goes to Paint Rock, and mas an
known as the Murphy ex-
;ension."
apnCp oIrrr nC roNCI-cJoN