The times., 1899-01-08
JAMES TYSON.
The Eccentric Millionaire of Aus
tr-Iir.

From the London Cllronicle.)
More than fifty years ago Tyson emil
grated TO Australia, worked as a station
hand for $50 a year. but saved. practi-
cally, every penny put his savings as they
accrued into sheep or cattle. and thus
formed the nucleus of his immense focks
lie attributed his successful acquisition of
wealth to his own strict habits of self
denial. He never smoked, drank nothing
stronger than tea, eschewed even the mi
nor luXuries of the table. never kissed a
girl and never visited a theater or other
house of entertainment. Arriving unex-
pectedly at his head station, Felton, on
the Darling downs, he became aware OF
the presence of few tins of jams which
his manager and staff had dared to indulge
in. Flash tucker" Tyson disdainfully
termed it. and promptly dismissed all
hands for perpetrating such wasteful ex-
trayagance.
One true story, which has never yet ap-
peared in print, relates how in his insen-
safe straining for economy he overreach-
ed himself. In the early SOS the only
steamer traf1icing on the Australian
coasts We're those of the A. S n. COM
pany. Fares we're high, and Tyson, hav-
ing frequent occasion TO travel between
Sydney and Brisbane invariably went
steeraSe and took his own rations-the
bushmans bread beef and tea. During
his prolonged sojCurn in the back coun-
try a rival steamer company opposed the
monopoly fares were cut down to van
ishing point, and included the free sup
ply OF meals. Tyson returned to the
coast and, unaware of the full extent Of
these concessions, paid the required fare,
but took his own ration bag as usual. Not
until the termination of the voyage did
he learn that the money he had paid en-
titled him to three free meals day, so
he demanded rebate from the company
but apparently his sense of equity pre-
vailed. for the claim was not pressed.
A man of his great wealth became nat
urally 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 Brisbane Hospital, which was in sore
financial straits. You ought to give a
thousand" said Bell. why should -"
complained Tyson; other people don't
give thousands. You won't find three men
in this city who Will give even $3.50
apiece" added Tyson. IF you can before
l O'Clock I'll give the same" Bell, always
generous. gave one sum himself and coax
ed two friends to do likewise, Just for the
sake Of landing Tyson who, always faith
full to his word. promptly paid. OF pa
triotism or sentiment OF any kind he had
none.
Much has been written and printed of his
famous offer to lend the Queensland gov
ernment a million sterling, and. later, on
the eve OF the financial crisis of 1893 tax
ing up a quarter OF a millions worth of
treasury bills. II was cool business in
stinct Characteristic of the man. He wisely
preferred the security tand liberal inter-
esD Of the government to that of totter-
ing banks.
Like the old misers of fiction. James
Tyson 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 re-
gard to the disposition of his wealth were
one of his most jealously guarded secrets,