The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-02


the distinction accorded to Mrs. Harriet
Fisher Andrew of Trenton. y. j., head
Of the EAGLE Iron Works.
Mrs. Fisher andrew. tired Of her life
in society first decided to turn to the
philanthrOpic field and at the time of
the Johnstown flood went right into the
heart Of the afflicted district, caring for
the sick and injured and homeless.
Later circumstances obliged her To go
into business. when interviewed she
laughingly agreed to explain why she
was knownsto the world as the original
Iron Woman"
"A serious illness inCapacitatcd Mr..
Fisher for the management Of his bust
ness" she said. "and | learned the
stern qualities necessary for a general
TO possess when | attempted to take
his place. | went in to- he boss. hut |
soon learned that If | was to he re-
spected by my employees | would have
to know all the details necessary in the
making Of anvils. vises and rails. To
this end ] began regular apprentice
ship; learned to temper steel to Chisel
the face of an anvil. to mould vises and
to make rails. In fact took a COM
plete course in every department of the
business from melting pig iron to bid
ding for contracts.
81 became so interested in the work
itself that the sound of the forge and
the blowing of the furnaces were
sweetest music to me. The sentiment
attached To this old business. which
had learned to love because Of So many
years association, prevented me from
making what | thought were changes
needed in order To bring the equipment
up to modern ideas"
As she said this Mrs. Andrew pointed
to an old stove which had done duty In
the office for scventy-two years and
laughngly remarked that Pose Stahrs
brother had sent a request from Eu-
rope to have a duplicate Of the stove
made and shipped L. him. a. he had
never forgotten his days of apprentice
ship in the Office of the anvil works.
Mrs Andrew took this occasion to re-
mark that many of the apprentices of
the plant had achieved prominence, and
II reunion were held at the factory
men from all walks of life would attend
it-lawyers. doctors, newspaper man.
besides a Judge who is proud Ia refer
to his early apprenticeship passed in the
place.
In going through the plant Mrs An
drew cautioned THE SuN reporter to
be careful in going down the stairs.
On examination the reporter saw that
each tread consisted of three different
kinds and sizes Of panknG. When
qu, sti ned about il Mrs. Andrew said:
II call this the Sentimental starr
way II was first put in when Mr..
Fishers father built and opened the
plant. After many years. when the
stairs were worn almost through. Mr..
Fisher. instead of ripping out 'h' old
boards and replacing them with new.
simply placed new trcadS over the old,
because, as he sad at the time. My
father during his time here used th"s"
stairs at least twenty times a day. and
can't bear to destroy the boards where
his feet have trod SO many times. some
years after Mr.. Fishers death, the
stairway again needed repairing and J.
remembering what Mr.. Fisher had said
about his father and having a srnti-
mental feeling also about the second
layer of treads, simply placed a third
layer above the other two
From here Mrs Andrew conducted
the reporter into the anvil room ano
showed an old wEcelbarrow all made
OF hard wood eX 'cpt for bolts holding
the parts together, and the iron cover
ing the bottom. The handles OF Inc
barrow were the same that II nat
seventy-two years ago. Picking M
200 pound anvil without seeming am
Guilty, Mrs. Andrew placed II on th'
old barrow laughingly remarking 'a'
she did SO:
"Whcn | first lifted an anvil of tins
weight thought It very laudable per
Torrance and imagined that the work
men were applauding my marvellous
strength So | was much disconCcrtcC
TO hear one of the Saws remark: Pool
Mr. Fish, | asked one of the othel
men what he meant and the old Scotch
man replied; He is thinking ot ma
woman and is glad she hasn't youl
strength when they have family rows,
Mr.. Fishers untmely death in &
railroad accident made my apprentice
ship, which at the time was a move
Undertaking, stern reality and thu
introduction to my life work Mrs
Andrew added
Have you had any trouble amonl
your employees in the many years you
have managed the husiness?'
ooh, yes. | have not escaped IN
usual differences which crop up be
tween employer and employee, ana IN
fact that | was a woman did not maxi
me immune from these unpleasant IN
cdents. one Of he first things Wa
that my superintendent quit withou
giving notice simply because ne de
cared against pctticuat government
you may know what a novice | wa
in business when | tell my first expert
ence in drawing IA check in connection
with This business, which ] have nov
been running for fifteen years. Whc
nv husband was critically i'll | receive
"A message from the superintendent ask
ing whether provision had been made |
meet the payroll. | asked him VIVA
should be done and he suggested tina