Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 10.djvu/422

LEFT WHITWORTH GUM 362 WICK England, about 1358; youngest son of Sir William Whittington. His father dying, Richard set out for London at 13 to push his fortune, and apprenticed himself to Sir John Fitz-Warren, a pros- perous mercer, whose daughter he after- ward married. He was a member of the Mercers Company in 1392, the year after an alderman and sheriff. In 1397 he was chosen mayor of London to fill the place of Adam Bamme who had died in his year of office, again in 1406, mem- ber of Parliament for the city in 1416, and in 1419 for the third time mayor. He was knighted by Henry V., and died in the spring of 1423, and by his will rebuilt Newgate and St. Michael's Church, connecting also a college and an almshouse with it, while he also restored St. Bartholomew's Hospital, gave a li- brary to Grey Friars, and provided drinking fountains. The popular cat story attributed to him is not well authenticated. WHITWORTH GUN, in ordnance, a wrought iron or, afterward, steel gun invented by Sir Joseph Whitworth. It had a hexagonal spiral bore, the angles of which were rounded off, and fired a projectile (sometimes called the Whit- worth ball), the middle part of which fitted the bore, but the rear part tapered somewhat, and did not touch the rifling, while the point was rounded. Both muzzle-loading and breech-loading pat- terns were made. There was very little windage, and good ranges were obtained. WHYMPER, EDWARD, an English traveler; born in London, England, April 27, 1840. He was famous as a mountain climber; was the first to as- cend the Matterhorn and other great Alpine peaks; ascended several of the greatest of the Andes; and traveled in Greenland. He published, and himself illustrated, "Swiss Pictures" (1866) ; "Scrambles Among the Alps" (1869) ; "Travels Among the Great Andes of the Equator" (1892) ; etc. He died in 1911. W H Y T E-MELVILLE, GEORGE JOHN, an English novelist; bora near St. Andrews, Scotland, in 1821. A cap- tain in the Coldstream Guards, he re- tired from the army, in 1849, but served in the Turkish cavalry during the Cri- mean War. Among his works were: "Captain Digby Grand" (1853) ; "The Gladiators" (1863) ; "Sarchedon"(1871) ; "Katerfelto" (1875) ; etc. He wrote also a volume of "Songs and Verses" and translated Horace's Odes; etc. He died Dec. 5, 1878. WICHITA, a city of Kansas, the county-seat of Sedgwick co., on the Ar- kansas river and on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, the Missouri Pacific, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, and other railroads. It is the center of an important agricultural region and the milling of flour is one of the most im- portant industries. Wichita is an attrac- tive city and has many fine public build- ings. There are 90 miles of paved streets, an excellent fire department, over 300 miles of sewer, 37 miles of street rail- way, and 145 miles of water mains. The park system comprises nearly 400 acres. Boating and bathing facilities are pro- vided in Riverside Park, on the Little Arkansas river. There are 31 public school buildings, in which are enrolled over 13,000 pupils. There are 370 teach- ers. Two magnificent intermediate high schools, bearing the names of Mark Twain and Theodore Roosevelt, were erected in 1920. The institutions of higher learning include Fairmount Col- lege and Friends' University. There are also an academy, a commercial college, several conservatories of music, and five par&chial schools. There are 57 church edifices, Y. M. C. A. and Y. W. C. A. buildings, a Masonic Home, and Mount St. Mary's Convent and Orphanage. Wichita is an important industrial center. Almost without exception fuel oil produced in local refineries is used by the manufacturing establishments. In addi- tion to flour milling the chief industries are the manufacture of automobiles, beef and pork products, bridges, candy, ele- vators, furniture, harness, men's cloth- ing, paper boxes, tractors, trunks, and wagons. Wichita is an important live stock market. Two large packing ijlants are located here. The Kansas National Live Stock Show is one of the important yearly events. There are four National banks, 21 State banks, and 12 Federal farm loan banks. There is also a Guar- antee Stock Land Bank. The total bank clearings in 1919 amounted to $604,- 202,200. Wichita was settled in 1870. Pop. (1910) 52,450; (1920) 72,217. WICHITA FALLS, a city of Texas, the county-aeat of Wichita co. It is on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas, the Wichita Valley, and the Fort Worth and Denver City railroads. It is an impor- tant industrial center, and has manufac- tures of automobile trucks, window glass, candy, stoves, pottery, etc. Pop. (1910) 8,200; (1920) 40,079. WICK, the county-town of Caithness, Scotland; on the Wick river, at its en- trance to Wick Bay; 161 miles N. N. E. of Inverness. Wick is one of the great centers of the herring fishery, and to this industry everything is subordinated.