The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-01
HOW POOR FLA. FISHERMAN
ENDED WITH A MILLION

Seated on the eastern veranda of the
Windsor hotel last evening group OF
men were talking along various lines
when the conversation suddenly
turned to the subject of saving money
and then someone in the party refer
red to the stories which have been ap-
nearing in the Times Union. One OF
the gentlemen, citizen of Key West,
after listening for few minutes, sud
denly took up the thread of converse
ton by saying:
"Yes. there are lots Of men in jack
sonville who have become wealthy
through the practice of saving money
but think the best example Of thrift
ever seen in Florida was furnished by
the late William Curry of Key West,
| whose death left a fortune Of mo-
than a million dollars to mis- children
! and other reatives."
The Story Of William Curry
Urged by his companions to con-
tinue, the gentleman from Key West
resumed his reminiscent narrative:
Il do not remember when William
Currey, Of Bill Currey.as we all called
him. came to Key West guess it was
long before | was born. But l have
heard my father tell of the thrift of
this man who was no different from
hundreds of others who emigrated to
Key West from the Bahama islands
about that time.
at is said, and never have heard it
denied. that when Bill Curry came to
| Key West he had hardly enough to
pay his board for week. He turned
to the water for a living, as most of
the men of Key West gained liveli-
hood from the sea- Bill had small
| fishing boat and he would go out and
catch fish along with many others
In the late afternoon he would re-
turn to the city and with pants rolled
F; high and sockless feet in pair of
old shoes would start out and peddle
his days catch.
Saved Money from Start
From the very first day he began to
fish it is said he saved money That
must have been true. for it was not
long before he was the owner of an
other boat and had man fishing for
him. Then he began to reach out fur
Their and a little later on his old &C
quaintances noticed that Bill had
bought fshstand. while his other
boat went out with man fishing or
shares. Bill had started his fortune
Later in years l went into a grea,
store which he had established in Ke,
West and there saw the old man, fol-
he was then getting well along II
years. thought it strange that h,
should be in the store waiting OF
buyers just as If he was one OF III,
clerks.
Why don't you quit working, Mr.
Curry?' I asked him as he was twin,
up my purchase. You've got plenty q
money
I'll tell you why he answered
/ I've made lots of money and Nv,
worked hard for some of it and w,
worked hard to save it. Working har,
is the secret of making money and say
ing money is part of the work. don
want to stop work and | can't worl
without saving money"
Savings Built Business
"rhe business Bill Curry built il
Key West was a direct result of say
ing. He used to tell people whom h,
knew that they should have done a
he did. Oftentimes some of his boy
hood friends would ask him how it wa
that he became so wealthy and h,
would tell them Just by saving m,
money He was a sober, industrious
man and as economical in big thing.
as he was in small things.
HE was not brilliantly educated
man but he had deep set ideas and ;
wealth of common sense that offse
any deficiency in education
/ II have known men who could tel
his life history. as they saw him da,
by day, and they said that Bill Curr,
was always considering a safe way t.
saving. In the great business he lief
20 his relatives he practiced the same
rule and along with his thrift, indus
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