The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-08-16

S~~~>O
! Andrew Carnegie has bten credited with
finding Charles NJ. Schwab. but 1t was
CAPTAIN W. r. Jones who discovered m
and it was Captain Jones who introduced
him to Mr. Carnegie. Schwab was eign-
teen years old when he went TO work IN
. the mill at Sc a week. He didn't drive
stakes very long. In SIX months he was
an assistant engineer, and even Captain
Jones marvelled at his thorough knowl-
edge of the workings of the plant. 1t
wasn't long until Schwab was chief en-
gineer. He was only rosy checked boy,
clean cut and smiling and known to
every man in the mill as Smiling Char
ley Schwab.
At that time the Braddock plant was
being torn up and cast on to the scrap
heap. Captain Jones was carrying new
ideas into effect. The steel industry was
making progress by leaps and bounds
Frequently new machinery was Installed
to take the place Of old and at cost
of thousands of dollars, only to be aban-
doned in a few weeks, when a greater
improvement was evolved. Young Schwab
was working alongside Captain Jones
He served the latter as a sort of encyclo-
pedia or figures and facts
Andrew Carnegie was living in Eighth
street, Pittsburg, ten miles away. He
kept in touch with what was going on
at Bradock and occasionally called Cap
tain Jones to Pittsburg to get a report
Captain Jones did not like the idea of get
ting out of harness TO run down to Pitts
burg, and in his blunt but kindly way
he told Mr.. Carnegie that the cars were
too SLOW" and he didn't have time"
by the way" said Captain Jones TO
Mr.. Carnegie one day, Il think / can fix
this matter without wasting any time.
I've a young fellow named Schwab, and
he knows az much about the plant as l
do. III send him down to report to you
and II you tire talking shop you can
have little music. Schwab can play
first rate
''All right, Captain. I'd like to meet
Mr.. Schwab," said Mr.. Carnegie
Schwab had never seen Mr.. Carnegie.
but when Captain Jones told him to go
to Pittsburg and tell Mr. Carnegie what
they were doing he started off with
confident ease. He entered the steel
with accuracy and enthusiasm his story
of the immense operations at Braddock
Mr.. Carnegie was astounded. He marvel
led at tho youths efficiency. Bringing
his own wide experience into play, he
endeavored 10 tangle Schwab, but the
boy met him at every point and in his
boyish, comprehensive style called Mr..
Carnegies attention to the facts.
Why. the boy carried me off my feet"
Mr. Carnegie said some years afteryard.
HE told me what was being done, how
II was being done and why 1t was being
done. He was very, very refreshing.
After they had talked shop for sew
eral hours young Schwab picked up his
hat and started to go.
''Oh, you must play for me- said Mr..
Carnegie when they had reached the
door Il almost forgot"
I'm afraid 1 don't play very WELL"
said Schwab. but I'll do the best l
can" He played the old songs-the ones
that had been popular in Mr.. Carnegies
youth and which had grown into classics
in his maturity. He played an old ScotcR
ballad and touched the ironmaster's
heart His music clinche the hold his
steel knowledge had invited in Mr.. Car
regie's regard.
. That was the banner day in Schwab's
life 1t opened the great field which he
as destined to cover. From that day
Mr.. Carnegie never lost sight of him, and
Sohwabs ability enabled him to fulfill
with credit every project assigned to
him. Schwab became engineer and then
superintendent.
When hardly out of his teens Schwao
rebuilt the Homestead mills. He was
thirty years old when Captain Jones was
killed and he became general superin-
tendent of the Edgar-Thompson works,
at a salary OF s35, 900 year
It may be said that Schwab's music in
spired Mr.. Carnegie's philanthropy in the
direction of church organs. He played
an organ which Mr.. Carnegie had INSTALL
err At the Franciscan school where he
had received his musical education he
had spent many hours at the organ. The
music he produced in Mr.. Carnegie's
home was different from any the steel
master had ever heard. The result was
accomplished by the combination of
good instrument and a good performer.
On the subject of religion Mr.. Car
nesie has always been discreet about ex-
pressing a public opinion, but years ago
he is said to have remarked that good
music would soothe the soul of any