The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-08

James Brown Herreshoff, a graduate. o
brown University, who now lives in Cali
LORNA; lie was visiting his brothers In
pr,stoI In July, and started back fol
oalliornia Just before the middle OF the
month lie Is recognized as an authority
Ia mechanical engineering as well as q
chemist, and II was he who first pro-
posed the coil boiler which gave TO the
Bristol works It's start In the construction
OF steam launches and other steam yes
seis. Many will recall the first OF the
steam launches with the coil boilers
Whicn used 10 steam around among the
yachts In the lower bay OF New York q
lew years ago on the days OF the regattas.
Caroline Herreshof, the second child,
married r.. 3. Chesebro In 1856. Her
war, during which he contracted disease.
resulting In his death in 1875 Her son,
| "A. >. Chesebro, Is a draughtsma in the
employ OF the Herreshof Company.
Charles Brown Herrcshof was the third
| child and was born in 1899. He is a
200 and 300 pounds, and takes charge of
the farming lands on Prudence Island.
lie Ii a man OF considera BILE political
ability, and has held several high Offices
In his native town. He Is also popular
In social life because OF his genial, whole
souied disposition.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY.
John Brown Herreshof is the oldest of
the three blind brothers, and is about "a
years OF age. lie bears closer resem-
biance TO his father than any OF the other
sons, and Is the head OF the business con-
Germ. lie is OF medium stature and
weight ana is unusually active. When In
MS once ne spends his time looking
aiter the business, either listening to
letters read TO him by his clerk, convers-
Ing with those interested in the firms
X. ha bal
people In New Bedford, New London or
other distant places. He often finds cause
Tor saying hard things against the tele-
phone, especially when the instrument
gets out OF order; for in Bristol 1t is no
more exempt from these frequent and
aggravating occurrences than il Is in
New York. One day, i'm the presence OF
the writer, Mr.. Herreshoff lost his
patience when the instrument gave out
as he was giving orders for some mater
iai In New Bedford, and he used more
vehement language than he is accustomed
10 use ordinarily, especially at his own
home, and to the local manager OF the
telephone company he expressed his
opinion OF the general company and its
machines.
He declared that "the thing IL one OF the
most annoying and aggravating nuisance
tnat ever had TO deal with. pay big
price Tor the use OF the confounded in
strument, but it's always getting out Of
order, and especially at time when 1
most want 10 use IL; and some day I'll
get in condition of mind TO throw the
thing out. - And he probably will do
SO. John IL. also spends many hours
each day going through the shops and, !
although guided by the ssm OF faithful |
attendant, he seems to know just where |
the work Is that he wants TO inqulre |
about, and what sort OF work IL is and |
VINO ana how many are employed upon |
u, and thus he keeps as well informed OF |
me progress OF the work as he would il |
ne had his sight AS president of the |
company he exercises general supervision
Df all OF Its affairs. Nearly every day he
axes sail on his> steam yacht, the
tugenia, and whether on business or out
'or pleasure he is usually accompanied by
lome OF the members Of his immediate
ng at the head OF the street facing the
hops, and the grounds around it are
most attractively laid out.
John II. began whiting out boats as
oon as he was old enough to manage
ack-knife, and in his fifteenth year he
,uilt good sized yacht for sailing around
Bay. About this time he
ost his sight. Graduallya film came over
us eyes and by slow degrees he became
otally blind. But he went on building |
,oats,. carrying in his mind the models
hat his eyes had guided him to work
pom In his boyhood days, although his
lethods OF perception had TO be radically
hanged from sight TO feeling. Forced by
is blindness 10 greater mental activity,
Is practical mind grew to one of remark
Die concentration and acuteness; he then |
ecame able 10 set up for himself, from
areiul description by others, pieces OF
lachinery and TO explain their qualities
perfection or imperfection.
Lewis Herreshoh who was born in 1914,
lkes life more easily than any other
lember OF the family. He also is blind,
nd his home is across the way from the
hop. He has nothing TO do with the prac-
cal work in yacht building, but makes {
lmseh so familiar in all that is done a
lat he can converse as readily about the \
ork on the different vessels as IL he had
IS eyeslght and saw everything that is
)ing on about him. His taste lies in 1
le direction OF literature and music, and S
Is teacher of the latter accomplish n
ent, having large number of pupils in I
rovidence. He is big, strong man. g
ith heavy brown beard. and is the o