The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-04

money long before he reached his major
ity. The self-sacrifces necessary In a life
such as Lincoln's were rot present in
their own. In fact. their careers in the
years Of youth are quite similar to those
thrifty ones OF the elder Vanderbilt or
John Jacob Aston.
William Carnegie father OF the steel
king, was a successful master weaver.
The mother was always close to the home,
and found time to instruct her children
in reading. writing and ciphering. An
drew's first ambition was to be a master
weaver, afterward he wished to be an edi-
tor, and later he was content with the
mere occupation OF accommodating wealth.
He was between 10 and Il years old when
his family removed to America and set
tied In Pittsburg, which already gave
promise of becoming a manufacturing CEN
ter. But steam looms were becoming into
use and made II difficult for his father TO
maintain his position an independent
weaver. The boy had TO ind work in
order 10 provide support for himself. The
local telegraph company needed messen
ger boys. and Andrew was engaged as one
at 81 SO per week. wages neither small nor
large as compared with what an untrain-
ed boy OF his age may earn today.
OF this work he wrote himself long aft
erward:
Now that I'd got my, Job, l was on
thorns for fear | couldn't keep IT, /
knew nothing about the streets Of Pitts
burg. and the business houses to which
had to deliver messages. SO | start
ed In and learned all of the addresses
by heart up one side Of Wood street
and down the other. Then | learned
the other business streets in the same
way. Then | felt safe,
Spending all OF his time around tele-
graph Instruments young Carnegie sought
to learn the mysteries of te.egraphy. He
was soon able to read messages by ear
and later to send them. He became a sub
operator and then a regular one. at
salary OF s25 per month. He and his
brother supported the family after tho
death of the father. in 1853 and managed
to save money at the same time.
Thomas A. Scott was building the Penn
sylvana railroad at this time into Pitts
burg, and held a position as superinteu-
dent of that end OF the road. He used the
local telegraph office a great deal, and
by chance most OF his messages were sent
through young Carnegie's hands. This led
to a friendship between the two which did
not terminate until the death Of Mr..
Scott. At the outset he made the young
man. then 10, his private operator. with
salary of SS5 per month. From Mr.. SCOTS
private telegraph operator he became his
private secretary, and worked with him
and under him and J. Edgar THOMPSON fo-
thirteen years. from 1854 10 1861.
During the first fourteen years or Mr.
Carnegie's life Mr.. Frick was not in ex-
istence, but was born about the time the
former started as a telegraph messenger
boy. His father was Swiss and his
mother an Oberholtzer OF the Palatinate.
On his fathers side for four generations
his people have been Pennsylvanians. The
most conspicuous branch OF the family
until young Frick forged to the front was
the Overholt wing. which commenced the
distiilins of whisky In 1910. Later II took
to making -four, stock raising and the
buying of land. and was wealthy when
Mr., F'rick made his appearance.
He resided during his youth with rea-
tives who were bankers was given clerical
employment by other relatives, attended
westmore,and college and Otterbein uni
versty. He did not lack for money nor
for opportunity to work He was frugal
and acquisitive and keen for the main
chance. His family had intermarried with
the McCormicks, Of Bradford. and these
McCormacks were the pioneers In the coke
industry OF Western Pennsylvania When
the junior Frick came to work In their
midst he possessed some money and deep
faith that his fortune was TO he found In
coke production. AS result he purchased
fifty ovens. formed partnerships and was
successful from the start. He was worth
n great deal more money at q than Mr.
Carnegie had been, and was fast becoming
the master OF the famous coke region OF
Conne.lsville
His speed OF advancement was acceler-
ated by the misfortnnes OF two other men
who were competitors with him In the
coke fields, They were Tintsman and sher-
rick. They overspecuated. dreamed OF a
world OF coke. and awoke 10 find a world
OF due bills pressing upon them. Their
creditors and the sheriff fell upon them
and forced sales OF their property follow
Ell. Mr.. Frick was the principal purchaser
He secured thousands upon thousands Of