The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-03-03


one may live, next door to man possessing
millions without suspecting it. A philan-
thropic millionaire may exist whose monu-
ment in the shape of some enormously en-
dowed charity confronts the passerby daily
and the world know almost nothing Of his
good deeds. OF this class is man reputed
to be worth S25,000,000. Fame has not
shouted his name abroad, nor does the
world know him, yet he has been great
shipbuilder-one of the greatest for 40 years
and has lived to see erected at a cost OF
s5C0. coo and with an endowment Of $2,000,
GOO a home for aged and impoverished ship
builders that will keep his name forever
green.
This man is William Henry Webb, and
ne lives at 415 Fifth avenue, in this city. He
made his fortune of SIS 100000 building
more than $50 vessels, from the ironclad to
the clipper in the famous old shipyards on
the East river, between Sixth and Seventh
streets.
Mr.. Webb is IS years Of age, but looks co.
Rather slightly modelled, his figure is OF
medium height, surmounted by a head
typical of the old fashioned American mer-
chant and man of affairs. His face is kind
ly and serene. wearing the air of calm re-
pose that betokens clear life, and lights
up easily into good humored smiles. His
silver gray hair encircles his face like a
hale; and his eyes beam softly behind gold
trimmed glasses.
He is averse to notoriety and breads
praise more than most men fear criticism
or censure, yet it is impossible to build s.
500,0 homes without incurring both fame
and praise.
When he was II years of age, he asked his
father to let him go to work in his ship
yards. He prevailed over parental Objec-
tion and for six years never missed day
except to 90 to Boston to see the navy yard
for week.
He learned what hard work was and had
to study drafting at night by candle light,
and in 1889 his health broke down. Then
he went to Europe, returning to find his
father bankrupt. But he went into the
same business with his fathers partner
and built more ships than any man who
had ever-until lately-been in the busi-
ness.
He built the General Admirable for Rus
sia, the largest warshippn the world at the
time. She was to be a model for the Rus
sian navy and reyolutionized shipbuilding
The world over.
Reputation came to Mr.. Webb from the
building of this ship, and success and wealth
were assured. He built for Spain and then
made ironclads for Italy, men-ofwar for
France, fishing smacks for Newfoundland,
pfivateers for Spain and gunboats for our
navy during the war. He constructed the
very last ship built in New York-the
Charles H. Marshall-in 1865.
His big contract with Spain for building
warsnip was cancelled at the outbreak OF
the rebellion by Preston, the Confederate
representatives at Madrid, who impressed the
Spanish government that they were vast
ing their money by employing a northern
er. He was then engaged by the United
States government TO build ships and had
almost completed the Dunderburg when
the war ended. He refunded the 81, ,025 600
which had already been paid to him by the
government and sold the vessel To France.
She was one of the finest vessels ever built
in this country, and in a museum ia Paris
Mr.. Webb found a beautiful steel model of
her which had cost 81 ,000 to build This he
purchased, and it now occupies a position
of honor in the home.
Connected with the home and under it's
roof is an academy wherein American bows
between the ages of 10 and 20 receive free of
charge their board and tuition in the vari-
Gus forms of naval architecture They will
be taught to draft and put together ships
and engines. But they must first prove
that they are unable to pay and must have
q rudimentary education in mathematics.
Twenty-Five or thirty boys can be accommo-
dated and each have q room nicely fur
nished.
There are very pretty rooms furnished in
sets OF birdseye maple for over 100 old ship
makers, and their wives may live with
them. Everything for their comfort and
amusement has been selected with a care
and solicltude that show how thoroughly
MIR. Webb's heart is IN the undertaking.
There are two libraries. One contains
books on al subjects, but principally his
torica!. The other, adjoining a museum of
Eiodels OF all sorts of ships huils, has
books treating only of marine subjects and
Is Chiefly Tor the use of the students. There
are splendid arrangements for facilitating
the process OF photography The large
SUNNY hospital is perfect IL all itsdetails
There are baths galore in the building and
in fact, it would seem impossible 10 find a
fault.
From an architectural standpoint the
academy and home is a most imposing edi
nee. and its location is admirable. Sur
rounded by IA acres. il is situated upon the
highest bluff at Fordham heights and COM
mands wonderful view of the surround
Ing country, overlooking as it does the pic
turesQue Harlem river and to the west the
banks of the Hudson. while in the east the
waters of Long Island sound can be seen.
II is of buff brick, terra Gotta trimmings
and granite base. 1t is leo feet long By 50
In width, four stories in height in the CEN
trail portion ard six at the north end At
the northwest corner tower rises 10 sto-
sies. or 10 feet. and represents the shaft
>~GADa:AEn of a hRhthoIse- while that If