The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-25
WEALTHIEST AUSTRALIAN.
Death of the Squatter Who Lived to
Finance His Government

From the London Chronicle.
James Tyson is dead-the holder of vast
territorial rights, possessor of countless
herds and fiocks, the meanest man proba-
bly, that the present century has known, the
stock target for the gibes of the small fry
of the press. A who won nobody's
love, excited the envy of only the sordid
few, and yet one of whom no one can truth
fully speak ILL., For to be mean is-in one
so scrupulous as was James Tyson, so exact
and exacting, so rigidly honest and truth
ful-to be the incarnation of simple justice,
He gave nothing, and took nothing without
paying for it his estimate of its precise
value; he ate, drank and wore only what
bare necessity required, and he required
from those in his employ the same strict
abstinence, and. as far as possible, ex-
actitude in the business of life.
More than fifty years ago Tyson emigrat-
ed to Australia, worked as a station hand
for thirty pounds a year, but saved, prac-
tically, every penny, put his savings as they
accrued into sheep or cattle, and thus
formed the nucleus of his immense f1ocks.
He attributed his successful acquisition of
wealth to his own strict habits of self-de-
NAL. He never smoked, drank nothing
stronger than tea, eschewed even the minor
luxuries of the table, never kissed girl,
and never visited theatre or other house
of entertainment. Arriving Unexpectedly at
his head station, FELTON,, on the Darling
Downs he became aware of the presence
of a few tins of jam which his manager and
staff had dared to indulge in. "Flash tuck
err Tyson distainfully termed it, and
promptly dismissed all hands for perpetrat-
ing such wasteful extravaganza.
One true story, which has never yet ap-
peared in print, relates how in his insen-
safe straining for economy he overreached
al etxyftn
steamers trafficking on the Australian
coast were those of the old A. s. N. COM
pany Fares were high, and Tyson having
frequent occasion to travel between sgd
ney and Brisbane, invariably went steer
age and took his own rations-the BUSH
mans bread beef and tea. During his pro-
longed sojourn in the back country a rival
steamer company opposed the monopoly,
fares were cut down to vanishing point,
and included the free supply Of meals. Ty
son returned to the coast, and unaware
of the full extent of these concessions,
paid the required fare, but took his own
alton bag as usual. Not until the termI-
nation of the voyage did he learn that the
money he had paid entitled him to three
free meals a day, so he demanded rebate
from the company, but apparently his
sense of equity prevailed, for the claim
was not pressed
A man of his great wealth became natur-
ally a butt for collectors for charities and
churches, but they rarely caught their bird
He was tackled once by the late Joshua
Bell for a handsome donation to the Bris-
bane hospital, which was in sore financial
straits. You ought to give thousand" -
said Bell. why should II" complained
Tyson; 'other people don't give thousands.
You won't find three men in this city who
will give even S25O apiece" added Tyson.
IF you can, before l o'clock I'll give the
same" Bell, always generous, gave one
sum himself, and coaxed two friends to
do likewise, Just for the sake of landing
Tyson" who always faithful to his word,
promptly paid.
James Tyson never specialized, but ne
kept keen watch on the stock markets,
climatic changes, and political develop
ments of his adopted country, and invaria-
bly, turned his observations to financial
profit. OF patriotism or sentiment of any
kind he had none Much has been written
and printed of his famous offer to lend the
Queensland government million sterling,
crisis OF 1898. taking up a quarter of
millions worth of treasury bills. 1t was
cool business instinct characteristic of the
man. He wisely preferred the security
(and liberal interesO of the government to
that of tottering banks.
Like the old misers of fiction, James Ty-
son has left his millions behind, but no
loved ones to enjoy them. He had but one
known relative, a brother, whom he never
favored in life. His intentions with regard
to the disposition of his wealth were one
OF the most jealousy guarded secrets