He called the manager to him and asked what this meant.

He ordered all work suspended.
"Work on the Fourth of July!" he exclaimed, "when there's plenty of Sundays for repairs!" He was furious.
When the cyclone of 1873 struck us we at once began to reef sail in every quarter.

Very reluctantly did we decide that the construction of the new steel works must cease for a time.

Several prominent persons, who had invested in them, became unable to meet their payments and I was compelled to take over their interests, repaying the full cost to all.

In that way control of the company came into my hands.
The first outburst of the storm had affected the financial world connected with the Stock Exchange.