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第76节

industrial biography-第76节

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firm had provided the mill…work and water…wheel (the first erected in

France on the suspension principle; when the event was followed by an

entertainment。  During dinner Mr。 Fairbairn had been explaining to M。

Gros; who spoke a little English; the nature of home…brewed beer;

which he much admired; having tasted it when in England。  The dinner

was followed by music; in the performance of which the host himself

took part; and on Mr。 Fairbairn's admiring his execution on the

violin; M。 Gros asked him if he played。  〃A little;〃 was the almost

unconscious reply。  〃Then you must have the goodness to play some;〃

and the instrument was in a moment placed in his hands; amidst urgent

requests from all sides that he should play。  There was no

alternative; so he proceeded to perform one of his best tunes〃The

Keel Row。〃  The company listened with amazement; until the performer's

career was suddenly cut short by the host exclaiming at the top of

his voice; 〃Stop; stop; Monsieur; by gar that be HOME…BREWED MUSIC!〃

 。。。'



In due course of time our young engineer was removed from the

workshop; and appointed to take charge of the pumps of the mine and

the steam…engine by which they were kept in work。  This employment was

more to his taste; gave him better 〃insight;〃 and afforded him

greater opportunities for improvement。  The work was; however; very

trying; and at times severe; especially in winter; the engineer being

liable to be drenched with water every time that he descended the

shaft to regulate the working of the pumps; but; thanks to a stout

constitution; he bore through these exposures without injury; though

others sank under them。  At this period he had the advantage of

occasional days of leisure; to which he was entitled by reason of his

nightwork; and during such leisure he usually applied himself to

reading and study。



It was about this time that William Fairbairn made the acquaintance

of George Stephenson; while the latter was employed in working the

ballast…engine at Willington Quay。  He greatly admired George as a

workman; and was accustomed in the summer evenings to go over to the

Quay occasionally and take charge of George's engine; to enable him

to earn a few shillings extra by heaving ballast out of the collier

vessels。  Stephenson's zeal in the pursuit of mechanical knowledge

probably was not without its influence in stimulating William

Fairbairn himself to carry on so diligently the work of self…culture。

But little could the latter have dreamt; while serving his

apprenticeship at Percy Main; that his friend George Stephenson; the

brakesman; should yet be recognised as among the greatest engineers

of his age; and that he himself should have the opportunity; in his

capacity of President of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers at

Newcastle; of making public acknowledgment of the opportunities for

education which he had enjoyed in that neighbourhood in his early

years。*

 'footnote。。。

〃Although not a native of Newcastle;〃 he then said; 〃he owed almost

everything to Newcastle。  He got the rudiments of his education there;

such as it was; and that was (something like that of his revered

predecessor George Stephenson) at a colliery。  He was brought up as an

engineer at the Percy Main Colliery。  He was there seven years; and if

it had not been for the opportunities he then enjoyed; together with

the use of the library at North Shields; he believed he would not

have been there to address them。  Being self…taught; but with some

little ambition; and a determination to improve himself; he was now

enabled to stand before them with some pretensions to mechanical

knowledge; and the persuasion that he had been a useful contributor

to practical science and objects connected with mechanical

engineering。〃Meeting of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers at

Newcastle…on…Tyne; 1858。

 。。。'



Having finished his five years' apprenticeship at Percy Main; by

which time he had reached his twenty…first year; William Fairbairn

shortly after determined to go forth into the world in search of

experience。  At Newcastle he found employment as a millwright for a

few weeks; during which he worked at the erection of a sawmill in the

Close。  From thence he went to Bedlington at an advanced wage。  He

remained there for six months; during which he was so fortunate as to

make the acquaintance of Miss Mar; who five years after; when his

wanderings had ceased; became his wife。  On the completion of the job

on which he had been employed; our engineer prepared to make another

change。  Work was difficult to be had in the North; and; joined by a

comrade; he resolved to try his fortune in London。  Adopting the

cheapest route; he took passage by a Shields collier; in which he

sailed for the Thames on the 11th of December; 1811。  It was then

war…time; and the vessel was very short…handed; the crew consisting

only of three old men and three boys; with the skipper and mate; so

that the vessel was no sooner fairly at sea than both the passenger

youths had to lend a hand in working her; and this continued for the

greater part of the voyage。  The weather was very rough; and in

consequence of the captain's anxiety to avoid privateers he hugged

the shore too close; and when navigating the inside passage of the

Swin; between Yarmouth and the Nore; the vessel very narrowly escaped

shipwreck。  After beating about along shore; the captain half drunk

the greater part of the time; the vessel at last reached the Thames

with loss of spars and an anchor; after a tedious voyage of fourteen

days。



On arriving off Blackwall the captain went ashore ostensibly in

search of the Coal Exchange; taking our young engineer with him。  The

former was still under the influence of drink; and though he failed

to reach the Exchange that night; he succeeded in reaching a public

house in Wapping; beyond which he could not be got。  At ten o'clock

the two started on their return to the ship; but the captain took the

opportunity of the darkness to separate from his companion; and did

not reach the ship until next morning。  It afterwards came out that he

had been taken up and lodged in the watch…house。  The youth; left

alone in the streets of the strange city; felt himself in an awkward

dilemma。  He asked the next watchman he met to recommend him to a

lodging; on which the man took him to a house in New Gravel Lane;

where he succeeded in finding accommodation。  What was his horror next

morning to learn that a whole familythe Williamsonshad been

murdered in the very next house during the night!  Making the best of

his way back to the ship; he found that his comrade; who had suffered

dreadfully from sea…sickness during the voyage; had nearly recovered;

and was able to accompany him into the City in search of work。  They

had between them a sum of only about eight pounds; so that it was

necessary for them to take immediate steps to obtain employment。



They thought themselves fortunate in getting the promise of a job

from Mr。 Rennie; the celebrated engineer; whose works were situated

at the south end of Blackfriars Bridge。  Mr。 Rennie sent the two young

men to his foreman; with the request that he should set them to work。

The foreman referred them to the secretary of the Millwrights'

Society; the shop being filled with Union men; who set their

shoulders together to exclude those of their own grade; however

skilled; who could not produce evidence that they had complied with

the rules of the trade。  Describing his first experience of London

Unionists; nearly half a century later; before an assembly of working

men at Derby; Mr。 Fairbairn said; 〃When I first entered London; a

young man from the country had no chance whatever of success; in

consequence of the trade guilds and unions。  I had no difficulty in

finding employment; but before I could begin work I had to run the

gauntlet of the trade societies; and after dancing attendance for

nearly six weeks; with very little money in my pocket; and having to

'box Harry' all the time; I was ultimately declared illegitimate; and

sent adrift to seek my fortune elsewhere。  There were then three

millwright societies in London:  one called the Old Society; another

the New Society; and a third the Independent Society。  These societies

were not founded for the protection of the trade; but for the

maintenance of high wages; and for the exclusion of all those who

could not assert their claims to work in London and other corporate

towns。  Laws of a most arbitrary character were enforced; and they

were governed by cliques of self…appointed officers; who never failed

to take care of their own interests。〃*

 'footnote。。。

Useful Information for Engineers; 2nd series; 1860; p。 211。

 。。。'



Their first application for leave to work in London having thus

disastrously ended; the two youths determined to try their fortune in

the country; and with aching hearts they started next 

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