Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-03-03

SEEKING NEW EXPERIENCE.
HE HAS ENGAGED IN MANY HAz-
ARDOUs AND NOVEL ENTER
PRISES.

Special to the Register.
Chillicothe, o.. March. PA million
aire working as a common machine
hand in a railway construction shop,
clad in greasy jumper and overalls,
hands and face black with the CRIME
of the machine, Sinking no part of
his task, but doing it faithfully and
well-all this is by no means an ordi-
nary sight, and yet it has been seen
daily for some time past at the machine
shop of the Baltimore & Ohio South
western Railway in this city.
The millionaire in the case is Ber-
trand Bell, a scion of one OF the most
prominent New York families, and a
young man who has determined that
his great wealth shall 0 stand in the
way of his securing some real expert
ence of life.
Let it be said at the outset that Bell
has not been blazoning forth his deeds
and accomplishments. He evidently
preferred to remain inoognito, but his
story leaked out little by little, the
greater part since he left here several
days ago for his home in New York to
recover from a severe injury received
while working at his machine. He did
confide, however. in two or three
friends here, and his story has been
s~ubstantiated by such proofs that
there can be no doubt of it's accuracy.
This much by way of introduction.
Bertrand Bell was born some twenty
six or seven years ago in one of the
brownstone fronts in the most exclu-
sive portion Oh Murray Fill. When he
had entered his teens, it was, of course,
decided that he must go to college,
and Harvard was selected as the n
which was TO beAhis alma mater. His
college course was not distinguished
in any way. He lived as a Million
aires son usually lives at college, TAX
ing things easy and not worrying I'M
duly about his studies. Still, at grad
uation he stood fairly well in his class.
1t was at this time that the longing
to get into touch with real life took
hold of him. The relief expedi-
ton to go after Lieutenant Peary was
just being organized, and by means of
family influence as we'll as 10y physical
fitness for the work, he managed to
secure a place with the expedition.
His portrait appears among those pub
lished at the time-a tall, well-built,
smooth-faced, light-haired fellow, with
birth and breeding in every lineament.
This journey TO the far North on
firmed him in his determination to see
something more of real life. At the
outbreak of the war with Spain, he
enlisted in the navy and had the good
fortune to be with Simpsons squadron
when it destroyed Cervera's fleet off
Santiago. Since that time his expert
ences have been exceedingly varied.
Before coming to this city he had
been working as a common section
hand on a Western road. He brought
with him letters of introduction from
the officials of that road to the officials
here, and by reason OF these secured
at once a position in the shops, where
he wished to learn the practical details
of locomotive repair and construction.
Those who knew something about
his personally were anxious to see how
he would enjoy the work, which is
most fatiguing and very dirty. Very
few thought that he would keep at it
more than two or three days. but every
morning he reported promptly and his
foreman had nothing but praise for
him. After this mad been kept up for
some time they began to be interested
and some of the facts of his life began
to leak out.
He would doubtless have been at
work yet put for an accident that oc-
CURED a few days ago, when n of his
hands was caught in the machine he
was working and very badly mangled.
It was evident that he would not be
able to work for a long time, so he has
gone home TO New York to rest and to
secure the best surgical advice, in or
der that his hand may not be crippled.
Whether he will come back or not is
uncertain, but if he does not it will
doubtless be for the reason that he
has hit upon some other unique field of
employment.
Bell could not, even in the grimy
clothes of a mechanic, conceal the
evidence of social training and expe-
rience. He had a very soldierly car
riage and a polished manner which he
could not throw off. He possessed also
a sweet and well-trained voice, ana as
sisted in the COR and even sang a solo
at the Episcopal church while he was
here. He made many friends, even
among the shopmen, who saw in him
only a fellow workman and who knew
nothing about his life. He was a good
natured fellow and not one of MS COM
panions can remember any instance
where he was in the least 'stuck-up."
Now that they have learned that he is
a millionaire in his own right it is
small wonder they have an inexhaus-
tible topic of conversation. 1t isn't
every day II gets to rub elbows with
a millionaire.