USA > New York > New York City > Old New York : a journal relating to the history and antiquities of New York City, Vol. II > Part 28
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Diary of Dr. Alexander Anderson. 297
went into the house, and McCormack has not yet made his appear- ance. Dr. McFarlane went to town and return'd at dusk in the hearse. I received a patient in his absence; this and an old man who came here instead of the City Hospital, for which he had an order, are all the arrivals to-day. 2 Died, Robert Seaman and An- drew Berry-the latter I have had in hands above a month-2 Dis- charged.
18th. Sunday. 2 patients died this morning. About 9 I went to town. Found our people sitting around the fire ready for Church. I received a sort of rebuke for refusing to offer myself as a Candi- date for the office of Physician to the Dispensary .* My Brother was not behind hand in enforcing arguments. The letter I re- ceived from my Mother was in the same stile. I may have acted imprudently in refusing it when proposed by Dr. Smith, but my feelings were entirely discordant with such an employment, besides the engravings which I have undertaken and my unwill- ingness to disappoint my employers had great weight with me. My present employment is much against the grain. A sence of duty & acquiescence in the will of God are the chief motives which detain me here. McCormack made his appear- ance this morning and told me that being unable to stem the tide he was obliged to cross the river and get on board a sloop to which he made fast the boat, but the rope getting away she drifted ashore. He got some negroes from the Long Island shore to ferry him over this morning. I read during most of the afternoon. 1 Patient was admitted & 3 discharged. Evening, the barking of the Dogs gave reason to suppose that thieves were lurking near the house. However we concluded in case of an at- tempt upon us, to set the nurses at them with their chamber pots.
19th. This morning the hoar frost appeared. McFarlane being in town most of the day, I was confined to the house. Amused myself with reading a magazine. We lost 1 patient and received 4. McLean & Nelson, students of Physic, called in to see me. Mr. Fisher showed them the order against admitting any person without permission of the Committee. Their stay was short, probably on this account. McCormack with the assistance of the
* Salary £200 per ann.
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boatmen who came with bedsteads, got the boat from the other shore; I gave him 4/6 to pay the people who took it up. The boatmen likewise thought fit to demand some compensation for their trouble.
20th. I took another trip to town to-day ; find the City begins to look more lively ; numbers are flocking in. After dinner I re- turned ; one patient had arrived which falls to my care. Pearson & Bull delivered up the boat with her tackling, formerly used in conveying the sick, and got a receipt from us. Dr. Corner spent the afternoon with us. He was very communicative and did not scruple to tell McFarlane his family affairs, as tho' he had been his most confidential friend. Evening, another patient admitted. 2 Swede sailors admitted yesterday afternoon, died last night. When in town I met some of the Committee standing at a cor- ner with the Mayor," to whom they introduced me. Mr. Stymets, a member of the Committee and a very active man, is in a dan- gerous state. He was Purveyor to the Hospital.
21st. Mr. Milligan having got a permission call'd to see us and left the Day's paper. Complimented me on having born the bur- den of the day. 2 patients admitted. My employments, besides attending to the patients, were reading, walking, and preparing a walking stick which I cut yesterday.
22d. Dull, lowering weather. I made another trip to town this morning and staid till noon. Saw Mrs. Bailey, who called in at my Father's. We contrived a method of getting my violin to the Hospital. I took it under my Brother's cloak 'till I got out of the Bowery road. Towards evening I fell to work upon it and afforded some entertainment to my Partner. One death to-day, no new arrivals. Mr. Stymets died yesterday. A public loss.+ It is somewhat remarkable that Mr. Fisher's Chickens are daily dying,
* Richard Varick was then Mayor of New York. He held this position from 1789 till 1801, having first been appointed by Governor George Clinton. He was born in 1752, and died in Jersey City July 30, 1831, aged seventy nine. He was a veteran of the Revolution, and at the close of the war was a member of the military family of General Washington, acting as recording secretary. He took a very active part in the organization of the American Bible Society in 1816 and 1817, and was its first President, retaining that position till his death.
+ Frederick Stymets, a baker, who was then and had been since 1792 an as- sistant alderman from the First Ward.
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and their flesh is found to have turned black. Whether owing to the operation of any epidemie disease or to their feeding on some poisonous berry, I know not.
23d. I was employ'd, most of the day within doors, McFarlane being absent. All my Patients but two were able to leave their beds to-day. 1 Died and 1 Admitted, 4 Discharged. I amused myself occasionally with the Violin. McCormick, who could not brook a "Blast " which he got home from the mistress of the house, desir'd to be discharged. Glad of the opportunity to get rid of him, I gave him a line to Alderman Furman," who now undertakes to provide for the Hospital.
24th. The weather agreeably warm. I indulged myself in another visit to my Father's family. The City begins to resume its usual appearance and a revival of business accompanies the return of health. I call'd at Mr. Bailey's. Went with Mr. Fowler to witness a will at Judge Ogilvie's.+ At 1 o'clock I set off for my Station. My Brother, who was going to Dr. Young's, kept me company part of the way. My Patients, 12 in number, are in general in a promising way. Dr. Smith came up and examin'd the state of the Hospital. A little Quaker who appear'd to be acquainted with him was here, and took a good deal of pains to let us know how active he was in relieving the sick and Distressed. Without much introduction he made himself as familiar as an old acquaintance.
25th. Sunday .- Invited by the pleasantness of the weather and the favourable state of the Hospital I made another visit to town and went to Trinity Church. heard Mr. Bisset from Job x, 6, 7: " Yet man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward." After dinner I return'd to the Hospital. No Deaths, Dismissions, or Admissions to-day. I spent the remainder of the day chiefly in reading. Fenton, one of the nurses is attack'd with the disorder.
26th. My Books employed most of my time this day. MeFar- lane went to town 1 Patient Admitted & 1 Discharged. Towards dark I took a walk to the head of the Lane, and found a dead Crow.
*Gabriel Furman, of 106 Broadway. He was an alderman from the first ward from 1792 to 1798, and was in the Assembly in 1796 and 1814.
+Peter Ogilvie, Judge of the Court of Probate, who lived at 69 Liberty street.
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27th. This morning I went to town. Found my Father's Family well ; must see the silver tea-pot which be has presented to mamma. Walk'd out and bought some shoe-ribbon. Met Cressin who wishes to have more engravings done. Mrs. Hall, one of our former nurses. called upon me to get a character & certificate of her behaviour while in the Hospital ; told me that after Stymets' decease she ap- plied to Alderman Furman for her wages, who refus'd to pay her and on her further opportunity threaten'd to send her to Bridewell." Said she was in a great hurry for her money, and asked her what she would do when that was expended. I gave my testimony that she conducted herself soberly & honestly while nurse. I re- turn'd to the Hospital before 3. Mary Brown had died, 2 Dis- charged. I spent near an hour in playing on the Violin.
28th. Having taken four mice, the plunderers of our Closet, they were sentene'd to transportation ; and accordingly we took them to the bank of the river and let them loose in a hollow tree. My time passes agreeably and, I think, not unemploy'd. The Duty of the Hospital being very light, I am chiefly occupied in reading ; the Violin comes in as a relaxation, and a walk now & then by way of exercise.
29th. I wrote no letters last night, expecting to go to town this morning. McFarlane propos'd going and I deferr'd my jour- ney. He return'd before 3. To prevent my Parents being fearful from my Silence I posted away. On entering my Father's door I heard the Violin above stairs. I went up and found myself in the company of Dr. Young, T. Herttell and his wife & Mrs. Davis. Mama was preparing for tea, and John & Mr. Herttell dispensing music. Mr. Van Vleck enter'd the room, but made a short stay. After ten I took my leave and had my Brother's Company part of the way. I stopp'd at Robertson's & Gowan'st Library and got
*The Bridewell was on the west side of the City Hall, in the Park, and was the common jail. It was a small structure of gray stone, two stories high, besides the basement. It was an object of terror to those who were likely to be imprisoned there, beyond what an ordinary jail would be, as jail fevers in that building were frequently very destructive.
+ The two partners in this concern were George Robertson and Alexander Gowan. They were printers and bookbinders, and their place of business was at 139 William street.
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a volume of the Night Cap. I am contriving means to attain an object which at present appears to me a very desirable one, the Faculty of communicating my thoughts in a good narrative stile.
30th. My Companion went again to town and I was left alone most of the day. I began to write a treatise on walking. 1 Pa- tient died & 1 was dismiss'd. The number of them is now reduc'd to 18. Those in the new room are mostly recovering, and some who are to be discharged to-morrow, seem determined to keep it up to-day. The liquor has flow'd pretty freely among them and the store-room has been emptied of its oysters to regale them. When I went in this afternoon I found them at Cards.
31st. Notwithstanding the dullness of the weather I went to town this morning. Stopp'd at Penny's and got my hair cut; next went to the Library and return'd the Night Cap, and then to my Father's, where I found them well, yet the effect of the weather upon my mother was apparent. I call'd to see Gardner Baker. He was emptying a bag of meal, and proceeded to take up with a knife very carefully what was spill'd on the floor, while he enter'd into discourse with me on the Epidemic. I took a slight view of his Library and the Museum and return'd to my Father's. The rain clearing off I left them about 2 and at my arrival at the Hos- pital found two more patients. This makes our number 13, 6 having been discharged to-day and one dead. I wrote a burlesque letter to my Brother besides one to A. Tiebout.
WILLIAM HENRY WEBB.
This famous shipbuilder was born in the city of New York, June 19, 1816. His family is of English origin, his ancestor in this country having been Richard Webb, who was at Hartford as early as 1639, and afterwards at Norwalk and Stamford. He was a man of prominence in those early English settlements. The family intermarried with the Huguenots, from which race, inter- mingled with the Scotch, his mother, whose ancestors settled in New York in colonial days, was descended.
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Isaac Webb, his father, was one of the principal shipbuilders of America. He was born in Stamford, Conn., towards the close of the last century, and in boyhood removed with his parents to New York City, where he made his permanent home. In his youth he mastered the art of shipbuilding and subsequently engaged in that business with a high degree of success. He became the head of the well known firm of Isaac Webb & Co. and later of the firm of Webb & Allen. He was also for several years associated as partner with the renowned shipbuilder, Henry Eckford, who made a national reputation in his business during the war of 1812. His shipyard was located on the East river.
William Henry Webb was born a mathematician. He received a good English education at the Columbia College Grammar School, New York City. When a boy, at the age of twelve, he tried his hand successfully at the construction of a small skiff, which he built during his Summer vacation. Before he was fifteen he had put together other small craft, among them a paddle boat. His father, who had other views for him, was not at all pleased with this development of the boy's tastes, and sought to dissuade him from further effort in the boat building direction. But this was not so easily affected. Greatly to the surprise and regret of his parents, the lad became deeply interested in the plans of vessels, and determined to learn marine architecture. His parents, his family, friends, and school teacher tried to dissuade him from his purposes, but to his obstinacy America is indebted for a ship- builder any country might well be proud of. For six years he devoted himself with rare persistence day and night to study and experiment, indulging during the whole period in but a single week's vacation, and giving that over to a critical study of the new dry dock at the Boston Navy Yard-the first of the kind built in the United States.
At the age of twenty, under a sub-contract with his father, he built the packet ship Oxford, of the Black Ball Line, between New York and Liverpool. Following this and under similar con- tracts, he built the Havre packet ship " Duchesse d'Orleans," the Liverpool packet ship "New York," and one or two smaller vessels. All these were completed before he was twenty-three years of age. On account of the severe strain of such work upon
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his youthful system, which somewhat impaired his health, he was obliged to seek rest and restoration by a voyage in the last named vessel on her first trip to Liverpool. While abroad he made a brief tour of Great Britain and the continent, but news of his father's death caused his immediate return. Shortly after this event in 1840, he entered into partnership with Mr. Allen, who had been associated with his father, the new firm adopting the name of the old one, being Webb & Allen. In 1843 Mr. Allen re- tired, and the business fell wholly into the hands of Mr. Webb, whose success from that time forward forms one of the most re- markable pages in the history of shipbuilding. In 1872-73 he retired from active business, having built up to that time over one hundred and fifty vessels of all sizes, including London, Liverpool and Havre packets and steamships and vessels of war of the largest tonnage ; in the aggregate his vessels being much greater than that of any other constructor. ' At that time he was also one of the largest, if not the largest, owners of tonnage in the United States, his interest covering in port or in whole about fifty vessels, both sail and steam, most of his own construction. Mr. Webb never built ships on speculation, but always on contract. Having early given evidence of his ability in the modelling of steam vessels, he was engaged to construct the first steamship to run between New York and Savannah. He also built the first large steamer for the New Orleans trade, as well as the first steamer for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, carrying the United States mail between Panama and San Francisco. He constructed nearly all the steam- ers subsequently built for that company. The first steamer, the California, that entered the Golden Gate, also the first through steamers selected to carry the United States mail from New York to China via Aspinwall, Panama and San Francisco, were built by Mr. Webb. In 1850 he conceived the idea of building a model steam vessel of war for the United States Navy. The Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Dobbin, considered his project favorably, only stipulat- ing that the vessel should be built in the government dock yards. This condition was not accepted. A similar proposition was after- wards made to Napoleon III, but owing to objections made by the Marine Department of France that sovereign declined. In 1851 Mr. Webb sent a special agent to submit like proposals to the Rus-
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sian Government, but, failing to get a definite reply, he sent the agent again in 1852, and being led to believe by his report that the Russian authorities might entertain the proposals, if made by the principal presenting himself at the Court of St. Petersburg, he went thither in the Summer of 1853. Mr. Bodisco, the Russian Minister at Washington, had previously decided adversely to the project, and his opinions and report doubtless influenced the deci- sion of the Emperor Nicholas, which was against ordering a vessel to be built in America. Thwarted, but not disconcerted, Mr. Webb renewed his proposals, adding further inducements, and enlisted the favorable attention of the Naval Committee. The influence of the Grand Duke Constantine was next sought for and obtained. He promised to bring the matter once more to the attention of the Emperor, having first persuaded Mr. Webb to agree to deliver the vessel when completed at Cronstadt, which entailed great addi- tional risks and responsibilities. The Naval Committee now re- ported favorably to the Emperor, and six weeks after his arrival at the Russian Capital Mr. Webb departed for New York, bear- ing with him an order for the construction of a large steam line of battle ships after his proposed models and plans, and also other orders of considerable magnitude. Soon after Mr. Webb's return to this country war was declared between Russia and the allies, and by the mutual consent of all parties concerned the contract was suspended till all appearances of hostilities should cease. On the 21st of September, 1858, just one year after laying the keel of the "General Admiral," named in honor of the Grand Duke Constantine, it was launched from Mr. Webb's navy yard, New York. This screw frigate of seventy-two guns had 7,000 tons displacement, and it proved to be the fastest vessel of war yet built (except the steam ram Dunderberg, since constructed by him). This magnificent and powerful steamer was delivered by Mr. Webb at the port of Croustadt in person in the Summer of 1859. He received from the imperial Russian government very valuable testimonials, both pecuniary and written, of the satisfaction with which they received the vessel and the fidelity with which the whole business had been transacted. The unexampled success of the " General Admiral " soon became known to the naval authori- ties of the rest of Europe and especially attracted the attention of
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the government of Spain, with which a contract of magnitude was made by Mr. Webb in person in the Autumn of 1861, but was afterwards cancelled at the request of the Spanish government, on account of the Civil War in progress in this country. Soon after this, he entered into a contract with the Italian government for two ironclad frigates. These were the first ironclads ever built in this country, and were delivered successfully by Mr. Webb within the time fixed by the contract. So eminently satisfactory did they prove, King Victor Emanuel by royal decree dated Jan. 31, 1876, conferred on Mr. Webb the order of St. Maurice and Lazarus-a distinguished honor, as this order of knighthood is the oldest in Italy, and one of the oldest and most prized in Europe. While the Italian frigates were in course of construction Mr. Webb accepted an order from our own government to build a screw ram of the largest tonnage, adapted for the heaviest arma- ment, to possess unexampled speed and the best sea-going qualities, the model and plans to be designed by himself. After adverse reports upon his plans by experts of the department, he at last ob- tained from the Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Welles, a contract for one of the most remarkable war vessels ever built. The craft, first known as the Dunderberg, but rechristened Rochambeau upon her entrance into the French navy, was constructed on a model en- tirely distinct from the turret or monitor system, and embodied among its novelties a ram of peculiar build and great power. The Dunderberg was 378 feet on deck, 68 feet breadth of beam, 22 feet depth of hold, and had a displacement of 7,200 tons, mak- ing it the largest ironclad built up to that time. When this ship was put on trial her performance surpassed all expectations. Her record at sea, fully armed and in commission, was 15.3 knots per hour, which speed, it is said, has never been equaled by any vessel of war of magnitude. The termination of the rebellion, before its completion, led to negotiations for its sale to the French govern- ment, which was effected by Mr. Webb with the consent of our government.
Mr. Webb also built the two floating palaces, the steamers " Bristol " and " Providence," of the famous Fall River Line on the Sound. Another of his notable achievements was the model steamer built by him in 1866 for the Pacific Mail Steamship Com-
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pany, and afterwards named the "China," to run between San Francisco and China. This vessel, then one of the largest and fastest merchant steamships ever constructed, had a capacity for carrying 1,200 passengers and 2,000 tons of freight. Mr. Webb also constructed the "Guy Mannering," a Liverpool packet, the first full three-decked merchant vessel in this country, and the ship " Ocean Monarch," possessing greater freight capacity than any previously constructed ; the clipper ships " Challenge," "Comet," "Invincible," "Young America," "Black Hawk," and many others.
Mr. Webb originated and took part in other enterprises of great magnitude aside from shipbuilding. He established an independ- ent line of steamers between New York and San Francisco, and previously assisted in the establishment of the Pacific Mail Steam- ship Company. He is now the only survivor of the original board of that Company. He contributed as much money as any other man to the building of the Panama railroad, and was one of the largest stockholders in that enterprise till 1872, when he sold at the highest price ever yet obtained for it. It was at 316 per share par value or $100. In 1871, he made his first visit to San Francisco by rail. Soon after his arrival there he was given a public reception by the citizens generally. In 1868 his capital and enterprise established a line of steamers in the Eu- ropean trade and kept it running for a number of years, during a part of which time it was the only American line then engaged. He also sent the first American passenger steamer into the Baltic. Subsequently he established a line of mail steamers between San Francisco and Australia, via Honolulu and different islands in the Pacific, embracing a distance of 6,500 miles, the longest continuous mail route in the world.
As a shipbuilder Mr. Webb has won world wide fame. Probably no greater master of the science of naval architecture has ever been produced by this or any other country. He not only built the greatest ships, but he also originated the designs and models for them. Since Mr. Webb's retirement in 1872-3 from active business, he has taken a deep interest in matters pertaining to the political welfare of the city of his birth. He was offered the nomination for the mayoralty of New York City on three several
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occasions, first by the Democrats, before the war of the Rebellion, and afterwards by the Republicans, all of which he declined. For many years he has been president of a body of moneyed gentle- men, large tax payers of the city, who are actively and constantly engaged at their own expense in efforts to counteract the vicious and extravagant management of municipal affairs. Through this organization much good has been brought about by the enactment of many healthful and restrictive laws limiting taxation and unne- cessary expenditure.
Mr. Webb is connected as an officer with several organizations and corporations and benevolent institutions ; in all of them he ex- erts a marked but quiet infinence.
Webb's Academy and Home for Shipbuilders, incorporated by the State and approved by the Governor of New York, April 2, 1889, is one of the crowning charitable enterprises of Mr. Webb. The object of this Academy and Home is to afford free and gratui- tous aid, relief and support to the aged, decrepid invalids, indigent or unfortunate men who have been engaged in building hulls of ships or vessels or marine engines, together with the lawful wives of such persons, and also to provide and furnish to any young man, a citizen of the United States, who may upon examination prove himself worthy, an education in the art of shipbuilding, both theoretical and practical, together with board, lodging and neces- sary implements and materials while obtaining it. Thirteen acres of land have been bought on Fordham Heights, in this city, fronting the Harlem River, and adjacent to a small park on the old Fordham landing road. The spot was formerly used as a private residence, and much of the ground is covered with large fine trees a century or more old, and others planted forty-six years ago, forming a very pleasant site, and now being graded. Plans for the buildings are being prepared, and their erection will be commenced immediately. It is hoped the buildings may be completed and the institution opened for the reception of inmates during the life of Mr. Webb. The first section of the act to incorporate this institution reads :
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