New-York tribune., 1885-07-11
DIR. RUFUS H. GILBERT DEAD.
PROTECTOR OF THE ELEVATED ROADS.
s,r ASIDE BY CAPITALIsTs-LITTLE PROFIT TO
HIMsELF-HIS PAINFUL ILLNESS.

HIMsELF-HIs PAINFUL ILLNESS.
Dr. Rufus II. Gilbert, the well-known pro-
o,or of the system Of elevated roads in this city, died
sster,ay at a. m at his homo No. AGA West seventy
shrd-st In his tythrd year. He had been seriously
m for more than year and had not been in good health
,,ce the war; owing disease contracted In active
servee ON the field. He given up 10 die when the
disease first attacked him. and IL was not thought that
nc could live months after he retired from the Army,
Int tough, wiry constitution, aided By strong will
xeresme his maady and he lived but never saw well
av Last winter his disease assumed dangerous char
acer and he not expected 10 ve but again he was
sueccssfu his struggle for existence and prolonged
his life face of the fact that several times his ap
,earance indicated that lie was dead Mrs GILBERT MS
wife has in good health and she went from her
home aboat two weeks ago to Painheld N D.. and from
.here TO the seashore with her two children at her nus
hands request in hope that she might be benefited
BY the change
Dr. Gilbers brother. who is also physician, was then
at the house. taking OF him with the assistance OF
coored nurse The brother called to his home in
Lawrence lille, PENN about week ago and ieft the
nurse in charge of the patient. who was extremely
feeble and hardly able to move On thursday weeh
ogo william Butman, a friend oI DE- 1ioert'
called at his house and could not get III.
He camo again on Friday and SATURDAY
and was still unable to gain admItance He called again
p Monday morning and no response being made to the
hell he went to the basement door which was found un-
locked. Hearing strange noises upstairs he called Ill
neghboring druggist and they went up TO Dr. Giberts
room. They found him in partially dcmented condi-
tion After much questioning IL was found that the
nurse gone Thursday and to that time had
not come back He did appear at the house until
Thursday night, and then another nurse had Deeh en-
gagged DR. Gilbert refused to have any medical advice
until last Wednesday and then Drs. Fero and Leonard
were called in and administered remedies to control the
great pain the patient suffering In the ABDOMEN but
he was beyond medical aid. After the nurse left him
until he found by his friend he had had no nonrish
en and this had brought an attack of great exhaus
ZION from which he could rally. He gradually grew
weaker until Thursday morning. when he became uii-
conscious ana fingered in comatose condition until MS
death, which was peaceful.
Dr. Gilbert born III Guilford, Chenango county
NY HIS father william Dwight Gilbert, was one of
the associate judges Of Seuben County. and was dis
fngushed jurst. He received his early education
in the district academy and having taste for medicine
became au apprentice druggist in mis- native place
His mind, however, ran strongly toward mechanics.
and he became tired OF the apoth-
ecary's shop and obtained position In
large manufacturing establishments Here
he laid the foundation of that knowledge which
in after years solve the problem OF the present
rapid transit system of the city, lie was faithful and
diligcnL and during the six years that he studied
mechanics he was not absent day. During the day he
worked at his trade and his night: being given up to
study acquired good knowledge OF classical htra-
ture and became an expert mathematician. After he
left steuben County for Corning and began the study OF
medicine in the Office OF local practitioner. and in
year afterward entered the College OF ana
Surgeons this city, He showed such proficiency that
DIR. Willard Parker made linn his assistant After at
tending the first OF lectures his funds gave out
and be went back to Corning and began to practise
his professon in the office OF local
practitioner and after eighteen months OF hard work he
made enough money TO complete his college course.
After graduation he went to Corning and began to prac
tise. He performed several important operations. MS
fame spread his assured He married the
daughter of Chief Justice Maynard Of the Supreme
Court OF New-York. Digent attention to the duties OF
his profession in many cases his services being gratu
itously given undermined his health and the death of
his wife broke him down completely. lie gave up his
business and went Europe for rest Having become
familiar with many defects in the manage
ment OF hospitals in this country. he studied
these institutions in London and Paris with
view to making much needed improvements here
While investigating the class of patients who usually 20
to the hospitals. and who generally come from the
densely populate tenement house districts he became
iinbued idea rapid transit cheapy carried
means OF thinning out the population ana giving
the poor d chance for fresh air and good health.
when he back from Europe the Rebellion had
broken out and he offered his services To his country
and appointed surgeon to the Duryea Zonayes His
and he was wounded himself by fragment OF shei,
which entered his hand and was NOT Ienoved UNI, @
operation under fire during the war General
Klpariek who was severely % wgnas"; was asHs was
grateful to him for the manner which he treated his
%ste SSse Msde Dectar at Fortress Monros and Medical
Director and superintendent OF the United states ARMY
Hospital in which Office he the superior officer to
MANY DISTINGUISHED SURG cons lie also the stats
OF Generals John A. Dix. George H. Thomas ana John
NJ Palmer. and breveted lieutenantcolonel He |
had contracted intestinal difficulty IN the swamps OF
Virginia. and not well enough when the war ended
to continue the practice OF medicne lie was appointed
assistant superintendent Of the Central Railroad OF New
Jersey. lie remodeled this line and earned for 1t wide
popu Iarily among the travelling public
At this time he was studying the ,rapidi
TO Te all 1ns his o ssyS it, lie @ got
pneumatic tube system, but abandoned ~ nnaily a. I'M
e tnen ha sa 'n9 e rs general
plan. He was agtatng the subject continually. edu-
a road through sixth-ave aud sccond-ave Ills patent
covered thrown from side of the street TO
to rua on independent tracks and which would aIorI
asupport to the telegraph wires. Capitalists s were
years before the work begun His unrernitting e
forts IN hs M country a%d m Eope m c end %S o
taned The structure in Sixh-ave was begun rapidly
saea Car forward %as ra ana H from trinity
Church to Fifty nntb-st in sixteen minutes on June
day an application made before Judge Lawrence TO
have the Of the the Transit s
1t changed, the ground being that 1t wond induce
sse would no be- % as people
an idea that the road was private snterprss oi Df
the road with comfortable salary lie had rights in
the road however. which the company inrinecd upon
pany removed him. threw him of the directorship
and finally compromised by paying him $4,000 In
Of the elevated % railroads. and the resulting
n"t % pretea pesn e from his and died
comparatively poor man. .,., ., m,,o ,vo
Dr. Gilbert married second tme and his wiie ana TWO
youug children survive him.
SCHUYLER LIVINGSTON.
Schuyler Livingston died at his rooms No
149 West Tentbst yesterday from consumption. from