The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-28
An AUSTRALIAN MILLIONAIRE
Interesting Things About His Record
and Point of View.

James Tyson said to have been the richest
man in Australia, is dead. He began life
as butcher and made an immense fortune
in sheep raising. In 1892 he offered to lend
the colony of Queensland. then in desperate
financial straits, $25OO,G00. The London
Times writes of Mr.. Tyson:
Having practically no use for money and
spending none upon his personal require
n1ents, his wealth accumulated to enormous
proportions, and a few years before his
death he was credited with the possession
of $4,000, 600.
His simple habits gave rise to endless anec-
dotes, many of which were founded on an
erroneous conception that he was of a mis-
erly disposition. OF these the following may
be quoted as one fairly illustrative, both of
his simplicity in regard to money matters
and of the peculiarly secular attitude of a
mind which placed churches, theaters and
public houses in the same category Of places
to be avoided. Near one of his stations it
was considered desirable in the interest Of
the local population to erect a little iron
church. He was asked to pay for it. He
replied that he had no objection. but on one
condition only-that the whole bill of costs
was to be made out and presented for pay
ment in one sum, and that he should not be
condition was accepted, and he gave a check
without criticism for the full amount of the
estimate presented. The following year, on
his return to the station, the responsible au-
thorities approached him again, remembering
his condition and apoligizing for breaking it,
but saying that a most essential item had
been forgotten. They begged that he would,
therefore, reconsider his determination and
give them $50 more for a lightning con-
ductor. His reply was emphatic mega
tive THAT l will not" he said II have
given church to Almighty God, and If He
cannot take care of i for Himself He does
not deserve to have it,
AS a matter OF fact it was fairly clear
that ne had little or no appreciation of the
power of wealth. 1t was suggested to him
once that he should give two war ships to
the Nation, and call one the Firebrand and
the other the Mower as memorial to his
name and calling. The idea pleased him for
q moment, but only as Il foolish sort of toy
with which he had no practical concern, and
there is no record that he ever thought Sc
riously of putting ii into execution. His
money did not interest him. He used TO say
of it, Il shall just leave it behind me when
/ so. / shall have done with it then. and it
will not concern me afterward. But" he
would add with a characteristic semi-eX-
ultant snap or the myers, the money Is
nothing 1t was the little game that was the
fun" Being asked once, What was the
| little gamer he replied, with an energy of
| concentration peculiar to him. Fighting the
desert! That has been my work. l have
been fighting the desert all my life, and |
| have won, l have put water where was no
water and beef where was no beef / have
| put fences where there were no fences, and
roads where there were no roads. Nothing
| can undo what 1 have done and millions will
| DC happier for it after | am long dead and
| forgotten"
To him. as to others of the pioneer stock
owners in the early days of the expansion
Of Australian settlement, the desert" was
an enemy TO be subdued and tanned for the
use of civilization. The fight with it was ar
| epic Of heroic endurance and marvellous