The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-23
A PROPHECY
FULFILLED.
II Was Made in l777 by a
Rhode islander by Adoption.
CAREER OF ELKANAH WATSON.
Came 10 Providence When 10 Years Old as
-. A..xnu.;nn IA inhn Qynvn
Came 10 Providence When IS Years Old as
an Apprentice to John Brown.
MADE TOUR OF SOUTHERN COLONIES.
Carried Important Dispatches 10 BENJAMIN franklin
al Paris When Only 2i Years Of Age Career
Closed al Poh ksni NY.

Since the close OF the war with spain, |
and during the resulting discussion OF !
expansion and Imperialism, many ola /
prophesies as TO the destiny of the |
United States have been resurrected,
and very interesting they all seem in
the light of the present-day accom-
plishment; but there is one prophesy'
and notable one IL is, that has escaped
attention. 1t can hardly be claimed
that il contained any hint that Ameri-
ca would i'm the year OF our Lord 1879
drive Spain from the western hemi-
sphere. destroy her sea power and cap
ture her colonies in the far-distant
| east. but IL did contain predictions no
1 less remarkable as TO events or even
| more vital Importance to the people OF
| this country.
This prophesy and it's remarkable
fulhllment must prove OF special inter
\ est To Rhode Islanders, for though IT'S
/ maker was not a native, he was
| Rhode islander by adoption, and one
of whose achievements the state ought
to be proud.
To only a very few of those who now
| rejoice in the fact that they are knoue
Islanders Is the name OF Elkanah wat
son known, yet he was notable ngure
I'm Revolutionary days and for more
| than three score years after England
recognized the intedependence OF the
| American colonies by signing treaty
| OF peace. His prophesy was made III
| l771 during a tour of the southern COLO
| MES, which he undertook AT the dlrec-
ton Of John Brown, the merchant
nrince OF Providence in those days. 1t
| is specially interesting 20 note that the
prophecy was written only year an :
| ter the adoption OF the Declaration OF
| Independence and while the colonies
were i'm the first throes OF desperate
struggle with mighty power. Here u
what Elkanah watson wrote III ms
diary in 1711.
"The map OF the world presents to
| view no country whicn combines Sc
many natural advantages. is so pleas
antly diversified, and offers Ia agricui-
| ture, manufactures. and commerce 81
many resources, all or when canho.
| fail TO conduct America TO the ilrs'
? | rank among nations. This | prophesy
II must be SO. In contemplating tutuft
America the mind is lost I'm the ain ol
2 cities I'm harbors and rivers crowded
with sails, and in the immensity OF th'
population. Admitting our popu
: iation 10 double every twenty
, three wears the result I'm hundred
:. wears. will be sixty-two millions or re
publican freemen, approaching on'
hundred millions in the year 1sOo,whici
will be nearly equal TO all Europe
the present day.
Il II Is unnecessary TO point out nov
remarkably these predictions nav
6 been and are being accomplished 10
il is obvious. To tell something or IN
| man who made them Will De more
/ the poInt. Elkanah Watson was a ma
!, tive OF Plymouth, Mass. where he wa
\. born in 1858. What advantages he ma
|, I'm the way OF early education does nc
annear but he must have been brigh
lad. for at the age of fifteen he was az
prenticed TO John Brown, the enter
prising merchant and ship owner 9
s, this town. II was in 117S he began nj
81 service in Providence. and 1t was ON
IN two years later that his employer ser
him with supply or powuer 10 oe, @
Washington at Boston. When ne wa
| but ~ wears of age he was sent by vi
= Brown on "A tour of the southern coz
r. nies This was business trip, ana u
a. records show that the young man wt
nj entrusted with the sum OF Sooooo 10
:, invested for his employer IN cargo
lu for foreign markets. While he was {
this tour he kept diary and 1t was
this diary the prophesy was recorded
r. That young Watson enjoyed the 7,
n | confidence of John Brown and the OF
| er patriots OF the Revolution was ~
hu naliy shown by his selection wh'
ty only u years OF age, To carry impoi
ant dispatches 10 BENJAMIN FRANK
at Paris. This duty performed ne We
of TO Nantes, France. where IN connecu
,re with MIR. Brown he established a cor
= mission house which hourlshed Tor
aS time but in 1884 he met with reNers
ed and returned TO America.
Misfortune did not daunt him' a
H.. h.gan anaw In North tafOnl
on where i'm four years ne aCqui,vu
n comnetence. Then he went To Albai
and for nearly twenty years was q
he az its most active and enterprising C
lay ,zens lie was a promoter OF every pu
ost | uc Improvement. was prominen
identified with the development OF
Vi land navigation. and helped to advar
the cause OF education by every mea
n, his command. Then he made t'
ihs Of Europe. and while In London ~
.wo iished an account OF his pioneer 1o
ned | nev i'm western New York. Returni
, no settled at Pittsheld, Mass devot
himself TO agriculture ana the
ilty nrovernent of It's methods. Mr.. Wau
$40 ,ounded the Berkshire Agricultural
fav ciety and took "A leading part In the
80, yelopment OF manufacturing in iustr
'ihe Ue returned 10 ...Sgny in 1916, q
line visited Michigan and explored the ]
region. ,nally In 1923 he settled
port Kent n " on the west bank
j. Lake Champlain where an unusu'
rom actiye. useful and long career
4 In brought TO a peaceful close in lSi9
-
James BYRON was arraigned bel
'"c IndOo Sweetiand this morning CHAR