The independent., 1907-03-21
$25O,OOO for Saving Millionaire


who has Just died In his seventy fourth
year, probably was the most wonderful
blind man who ever lived The victim
of a terrible and crushing physical al
Fiction in his early youth, he triumphed
over it by sheer force of mind ana
character, and won for himselI the
proud but pathetic title of the 'pilna
inventor" by which he was known all
over England.
That. however, conveys but faint
idea of his various claims to distinc-
tion. His many degrees included those
of doctor of philosophy and master OF
arts He was a fellow of the royal
geological society and the chemical So
ciety. He made many valuable sclen-
tific discoveries. His inventions COW
cred q wide range from rapid hre
breech loading rifles to electrical alarm
clocks. As a doctor, he once saved
millionaire's life and was paid the big
gest fee ever recorded in the annals OF
medjcine-$250,00 He did score or
things. any one Of which would have
sufiiced to win distinction for man
possessed of all his faculties. HIS
greatest achievements were those
which would seem to demand good
ayesigft above everything The man
himself was a greater marvel far than
any of the wonderful things he did.
His death was entirely unexpected.
He was a sturdy. vigorous man on
whom the burden of old age rested so
lightly that he carried himself as
straight as pine tree. Quite recently
never dreaming that his death was
50 near at hand-I called upon him 10
Obtain from his own lips some account
of his wonderful and inspiring lie
story for American readers. At his re-
quest I sent the report of the interview
to him for revision, for he was great
stickler for accuracy. Shortly peloIe
his death was announced received the
manuscript back with some correclIons
and additions which he had dictated
70 his amanuensis. To the world at
large. therefore, it may be regarded as
his last message which lends unusual
and pathetic interest to It, The pno-
tographs accompanying II, especiany
taken for this article were the last for
which he ever posed.
Dr. Gale lived in modest four story
mansion in Adelaide road, lamps eeAu,
The place is called "Galesmeao' ,ano
IN the door was a large brass plate,
With tha legend. "Dr. Gale, Consulting
Electrician" On calling upon the DOC
tor I was shown into q large pach =
room the table Of which was covered
hv electrical and scientific apparatus.
Tn a few minutes there was qHch
stem outside the door, and Dr. Gaie
came into the room He walked over,
shook hands without any hesitation or
"feeling about" and then looked at me
in an inquiring way. his action waa
so perfectly natural his light plue eyes
seemed so expressive and clear, tnat
m outward sign gave any indication
nf tba fact that he was totally hope
lessly blind.
II have made it q principle All my
,feo he said, after I had explained
nv errand, never to allow any one to
assist me. From the very earliest Gays
II lost my sight at fifteen ana an
more than seventy have done every
thing that was possible alone.
"My boyhood was spent in the towr
Of Tayistock,~ Devonshire." DR.. Gaie
continued. and I attended the ioca
school there before ] became blind rol
some years had noticed that some
thing was wrong with my signt, pu
was so sensitive about this defec
that for a long time I managed y
conceal from my parents and teacher'
the nature OF my trouble / remember
scheming to be placed at certain po,
sition in the line in the class SO that
could reel off from memory portions O
nv lessons. | could not see the prln
everything was a blur to me; ana
memorized word for word pages Q
various matter, reciting it perfectl!
when called upon to do so, as II read
ing from the book. Even in our game
such az eap-frog-I used to have .
place white handkerchiefs on the back
OF nay playmates SO as to see where g
jump. ,on
time from my parents, and then IN
fsmily doctor was called In. doup
il my sight could have been preserve
even with the most skiifui attehtson
hui whatever chance there was OF !
he destroyed by ignorant treatment
when | was taken to competent ocu
lists In Plymouth my case was hope
less.
"What mental and physical agony
suffered during the gradual eclipse Q
my sight, 40 human tongue eouia con
IwN. txtaw (3pt forgive me-.