Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-04


the Rhine in 1908, where he soon became
known for his courage, strong will and bust
ness sagacity. He invested his small capital
in coal barges and gradually built up an i'm
portant coal-carrying line between Cologne
and Holland. After time, he established his
own ship-building plant and began construct
ing his own barges so that by 1920 the num-
Der of craft owned by the SHINES firm had
increased to 68.
Twenty years later, however, when the
practically of the steamboat had been well
established, Matthias SHINES decided to scrap
his slow, horse-towed barges in favor OF steam
power. This substitution was bitterly OPP
posed by the Rhinelanders, who had been
furnishing the horses for towing the barges
and disliked to see good source OF profit
swept away. SHINES was informed that upon
the appearance of the first steamboat used to
tow his barges, there would be trouble.
This warning proved to be accurate. When
the first steamboat arrived at certain point
near Neuwied-on-the-Rhine, it was greeted
with volley of rifle shots from the bank
But to the discontinue of the enemy, the
steamboat swept haughtily on, scorning to no.
tice such interference; for Matthias SHINES
had taken the precaution to place his steers
man in an invulnerable, armored turret. After
that the RhinelanderS resigned themselves to
the inevitable.
Family of Promoters
When Matthias SHINES died in 1S45 his
included not only river shipping but mining
and the marketing of coal. 1t had become so
complicated and varied, in fact, that one man
could scarcely handle it. but Matthias Ii some
how managed to take care of it and keep it in
the possession of the family, which included
his three brothers and three sisters Upon
his death in 1853, he passed the responsible
ity on to Gustav, the oldest CT the three
brothers, and the father of the amazing Hugo
SHINES who now engages the attention of the
world
Hugo exhibited unusual talent for manag-
ing his share of the SHINES possessions at an
early age. Conf1.ing his education to COM
merc;al subjects, lie entered the SHINES firm
when he became 10, but soon felt the need
for larger fields to conquer. Accordingly, two
years later he established his own firm, laying
the foundation for an independent career. Not
until the outbreak of the war, however, did
he find his real opportunity for complete self
expression The history of all his skillful
manipulations would make pretty tale, but
suffice it to say that he entered the war period
only moderately Itch man and came out with
billions. And since the armistice he has
achieved even greater wealth and power.
In amusing contrast to his spectacular ex-
PLOTS is the personal appearance Of the man
himself, who is described by DR.. Brickmeyer,
his biographer, as resembling nothing so much
as "a wandering lump of coal"
"He has a compact body" writes Brick
meyer, upon which is set a big head. His
hair is close-cropped, black; his face large
and pale, his beard black as coal, his nose
bent, his eyes deep-set. AN Assyrian King
that is what German paper recently dubbed
him.
Ellis manner is absolutely without pose
straightforward, .loavy, firm. He walks with
a slight stoop, shutting along like seafarer.
His clothes and habits simple.
eft is remarkable he comments, chow the
traits and leanings Of old Matthias SHINES
have reappeared in his grandson. In him we
find the same restless spirit, the same daring
the same talent for combination and construc-
ton; but these powers find their application
on an infinitely greater scale.