The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-05


one may live next door to "A 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 T
and the world know almost nothing Of his
good deeds OF this class is man reputed
to be worth t25,0O0,0O0. Fame has not
shouted his name abroad, nor does the
world know him. yet he has been a great
shipbuilder-one of the greatest for 40 years
and has lived 10 see erected at a cost of
$500 900 and with an endowment Of 5000
600 home for aged and impoverished ship
builders that will keep his name forever
green.
This man Is William Henry Webb. and
he lives at AIS Fifth avenue, in this city. He
made his fortune Of s25,OOO,0OO 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 as years Of age, but looks CO.
Rather slightly modelled, his figure is OF
medium height, surmounted by n head
typical Of the old fashioned American mer-
chant aud man Of affairs. His face is kind
IL 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
halo, 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 e.
100000 homes without mourning both fame
and praise
When he was - years Of age, he asked his
father to let him 60 to work in his ship.
yards. lie prevailed over parental obiec-
tion and for six years never missed a day
except to go to Boston TO see the navy yard
for a week.
He learned what hard work was and had
TO study drafting at night by candle lighs,
and In 1889 his health broke down. Then
he went TO Europe, returning to find his
father a bankrupt. But be 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
STA, the largest warship in the world at the
time. She was to be a model for the Rus.
sian navy and revolutionized shipbuilding
the world over.
Reputation came TO Mr.. Webb from the
building Of this ship, and success aud wealth
were assured. He built for spain and then
made ironclads for Italy, men-of war for
France, fishing smacks for Newfoundland
privateers Tor Spain and gunboats for our
navy during the war. lie constructed the
very last ship built in New Nork-the
Charles II. Marshall-in 1865.
His big contract with Spain for building
warship was cancelled at the outbreak of
the rebellion by Preston, the Confederate
representative al Madrid who impressed the
Spanish government that they were wast-
fhafr lac Ftlnrsfufr "a - horn
err lie WAS then engaged by the United
States government TO build ships and had
almost completed the Dunderburg when
the war ended. lie refunded the 81 OBS. COO
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 museum in Paris
Mr. Webb found a beautiful steel model OF
her which had cost { 900 To build This he
purchased, and il now occupies "A position
OF honor lu the home.
Connected with the home aud under its
roof is an academy wherein American boys
between the ages of 10 and 20 receive free Of
charge their board and tuition in the yari-
Gus forms Of naval architecture. They will
be taught 20 draft and put together ships
and engines. But they must first prove
that they are unable so pay and must have
"A rudimenta-y education in mathematics.
Twenty five or thirty boys can be accommo-
dated and each have "A 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 aud
amusement has been selected with a care
aud solioitude that show how thoroughly
Mr.. Webb's heart Is la the undertaking.
There are two libraries. one contains
books on all subjects, but principally his
torioaL The other. adjoining museum Of
models Of all sorts Of ships hulls, has
books treating only Of marine subjects and
il chiefly Tor the use of the students. There
are splendid arrangements for facilitating
the process Of photography. The large
sunny hospital l. perfect la all IT, details.
There are baths galore In the building, and,
IN fact, Il would seem impossible 20 find q
fault
From an architectural standpoint the
academy and home Il a most imposing edi.
fee, aud it, location Is admirable Sur.
rounded by IA acres, Il il situated upon the
highest blun at Fordham heights aud com