Mr Charles F Hillman

The editors, seizing the opportunity of Mr Hillman's departure, in company with Mrs Hillman, to the United States, where they intend staying a few months visiting their daughter, Miss Bianca [who in 1905 would graduate from the Women's Medical College in Philadelphia, where she would subsequently pursue a career in medicine], publish this month the photograph of the genial author of "Old Timers"," Quien Sabe. We shall probably get into "hot water" on our associate's return, for Quien Sabe is as modest as he is entertaining, and does not care to have his identity made known, much less that his portrait should be published with the cognomen Quien Sabe below it. But our friend's faithful service in connection with this magazine, and the high esteem in which he is held in the social circles of this city and throughout Chile, is sufficient excuse for thus intruding upon his modesty.
Mr Hillman came out to Chile in 1857, a few years before the breaking out of the Great War of the Rebellion in his native land. Abraham Lincoln was not yet President, and the Prince Consort of England was still living, when Mr Hillman, at the age of 22, set foot on these shores.
Born in Albany, capital of the state of New York, he was educated in the State Normal School, entering in 1854, as civil engineer, the employ of the Great Western Railway, between the famous Niagara Falls and the city of Detroit, Michigan. This line finished, the Canadian government contracted his services for the survey of a port on the northern shore of Lake Erie. After various other engineering enterprises in the United States, he accepted an offer to come to Chile to superintend the construction of the Ferrocarril del Sur, which he did in the year already mentioned.
Mr Hillman has been actively connected since then with nearly every important railroad built in the country, among which may be mentioned the railway between Santiago and Valparaiso. In 1871 he undertook the building of part of the tram car lines in Santiago, completing those which run through the Calles Alumada, Neveria and Puente. The last railways of the built by Mr Hillman before retiring from such arduous duties was that between Angol and Traiguen and between Robleria and Victoria in 1884.
In 1876 Mr Hillman was elected corresponding member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and in 1892 (Institute records indicate an earlier date) he received the distinction of membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers of London
Mr Hillman has on several occasions been appointed by the Chilean government to inform on technical matters and he has always carried out these commissions successfully.
We are all familiar with the social side of Mr Hillman's life in this city. As a member of the Board of Trustees at Union Church, member of the Sunday School (young people please take particular note of this), member of the Consejo General Chileno de Temperancia, he has rendered faithful and valuable services which will not be soon forgotten.
On several occasions Mr Hillman has mounted the lecture platform, bringing forth memories of things new and old. His ready wit and racy conversation make him a favourite at every social event. Mr Hillman's personality and sterling Christian character are worthy to be remembered and admired. As a friend of little children he is looked upon be them as a veritable Santa Claus, for besides Christmas remembrances to the poor, he has always a ..pocket in his vest full of sweets which will be handed out to every little friend he meets.
We close these few lines by wishing Mr and Mrs Hillman a safe and pleasant journey to the States and a speedy return.