The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-09

mnder Of the latter fact is the excel
lence OF the gardens and orchard.
The estate OF Skibo castle, in one of
the best fishing and shooting districts
of Sutherlandshire. consists Of $4,000
acres. one Of the Mackays became the
owner OF Skibo after the days OF the
bishops, and subsequently IL passed into
the possession of c. Demster. Esq.
Hospidale. a short distance TO the west,
IL the nearest great house TO Skibo cas-
tie. 1t is owned by the Gilchrist fam
lily. and there "A large slab, feet high.
is said to commemorate the death In
battle OF the Danish chief Hospis.
To the east Of Skibo three miles, on
the road running from Bonar bridge,
at the head of Dornoch firth. 10 Dor
noch. Is Clashmore inn. the same dis
tance south Of which lies Meikie ferry.
the station OF that name on the rail-
road which runs close TO the south
shore OF the estuary being the nearest
one to Mr.. Carnegie's new property.
The castle is to the south OF the main
road and at the head of an arm of the
firth
The nearest town OF Importance to
Skibo is Tain. little south OF west OF
Dornoch. on the other side Of the wa
ter. Skibo is about 53 miles northeast
of Cluny castle.
Andrew Carnegie is one of the most
remarkable men Of the time. physical
ly small, but mentally a giant. Com
mencing life as n telegraph messenger
boy, with a stock Of Scotch foresight
and shrewdness as his only capital, he
has been so successful that today he is
a 25 times millionaire and the largest
coke, iron and steel maker in the world
Back in the forties there came to
Pittsburg from the village of Dumfer-
line, i'm Scotland an iron molder by the
name of Carnegie, who brought with
him his wife and two sons, Andrew
and Thomas, aged IL and 10 The elder
Carnegie was very fond OF a quiet
game OF checkers, as was David
Brooks. then manager of the telegraph
and railroad offices i'm that city. This
mutual fondness often brought the two
men together, and one night Carnegie
asked Brooks If he couldn't find some
thing for his son Andrew To do. Send
him down TO my office, and I will make
him a messenger boy" replied Brooks.
Young Andrew was on hand bright
and early the next morning TO COM
mence his duties. a lot of pretty sharp
youngsters were then employed as mes
senger boys i'm the office. Robert Pit
cairn. now general superintendent OF
the Pennsylvania railroad. was one Of
them, and David McCargo, for many
years past president of the Allegheny
Valley railroad. was another, but An
drew was the brightest one among
them.
Manager Brooks had an old telegraph
instrument rigged up I'm the Office for
the use OF the messenger boys. and the
little Scotchman pounded away on IL
so diligently in his odd moments that
he soon became an expert operator. Not
long after the late Thomas Scott. then
superintendent of the Pennsylvania,
wanted an operator In his private Of
flee. and Brooks recommended Carne-
! gle.
! Here the young man showed such apt
itude in moving trains that he attract
/ ed the favorable attention of Scott
and Edgar Thomson. president Of the
| Pennsylvania. and he was transferred
/ 10 Altoona and became In turn chief
/ telegraph operator Of the road and SUI
| perintendent OF the western division.
| When the Drake well was struck. Scott
| and Thomson put their money against
]
| engaged In oil operations, which made
the younger OF the three a millionaire
| before he was 90
With n Scotchman canniness and
caution. the young millionaire possess
ed an Americans push and energy.
] With his younger brother Tom. he saw
that the iron and stesl industries were
only In their infancy Ina this country.
! Together they built the Edgar Thorn
son steel works and q biz iron mill az
/ Brsddock Pa Then came the war.
and with IL big protective tarin and
I an ever increasing demand for iron and
steel. which caused a corresponding in
! crease I'm prices. Andrew Carnegie in
/ i've years doubled trebled and quad
rupled his already large fortune. and
/ his brother also became immensely
rich.
The hold which he then obtained upon
the iron ana steel trade he has ever