Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-05-30
DIES BY HIS OWN HAND.
Gen. Anderson Commits Suicide IN
a Philadelphia Hotel.

hhdUtiBttd nOtcd.
Gen. Adna Anderson, of New York, com.
mitted suicide by shooting in his room at the
Lafayette Hotel, Philadelphia. The motive
for the deed is not known. A bunch of keys
were found in his pockets bearing the stamp
of the Everett House. New York A North
ern Pacific Railroad pass for 1889 was also
found. This bore the name "Gen. A. Ander-
SON." The manager of the Lafayette Hotel
telegraphed the Everett House and notified
the manager there Of Anderson's suicide.
Gen. Anderson arrived at the Lafayette
few days ago and registered simply "A. An
derson, New York" No especial notice was
taken of him, as his behavior was no differ
ent from that of the other guests. He vas
quiet old gentlemen. The night Waterman
of the hotel was on the fourth floor just be-
fore midnight, when he heard pistol shot.
the report coming from the toilet room on
that floor. Running there, he found Ander-
son on the floor. unconscious and dying. with
a bullet hole in his right temple. A physician
was sent for but before he reached the hotel
the man was dead. About n year ago while
engaged in mining, the General contracted
what was known as mountain fever This
troubled him for so me time, and finally de-
yeloped into brain trouble On a page Of a
memorandum book left by him was written:
II feel a great buzzing in my ears, and
very peculiar feeling in my head. Can this be
brain fever?"
Gen Adna Anderson was born on July 25
1927, in Ridgeway, Orleans County, N 7.
He began his railroad work when he was 20I
years old as n chairman Of the New York.
and New Haven Railroad. A few monthsI
later he became assistant engineer Of thd
Connecticut River Railroad and forsook thisl
company in September, 1S4g, in order TO fill
the same place for the Ashueot Railroad.
He was successfully resident engineer Of the
Michigan, Southern and Northern Indiada
Railroad locating engineer Of the Mobile ana
Ohio Railroad, chief engineer Of the Tennes-
see and Alabama Railroad chief engineer
and superintendent of the Edgeheld and
Kentucky Railroad and for "A short time was
chief engineer of the Henderson and Nash
vile Railroad. When the Edgcfeld and Ken
tncky road failed Gen. Anderson was APP
pointed receiver. When the war of the re-
beon broke out he offered his services to
the Federal army, and was made assistant
engineer and chief Of the construction corps
of tbe Army ofthe Potomac in Virginia. In
February, 1868. he was appointed CHIEF en-
gineer OF the military railroads in Virginia.
year later he was made the general super
intendent Of Government railroads of the
military division of Mississippi From No
vember, 1864 until July, 1866. he acted as
chief superintendent and engineer of nll the
military railroads
From February until May 1867. he was
chief engineer Of the Illinois and st Louis
bridge. Then he was superintendent OF the
Kansas Pacific road, and later was made the
Nice-p President and general manager OF the
Toledo Wabash and Western Railroad Com
many. General Anderson became President
OF the Lafayette and Bloomington Railroad
IN 1873 He was appointed receiver of the
Chicago, Danville and Nincennes Railroad in
May. 1875. In February 1850, he was made
the engneer-in-chief Of the Northern Pacific
Railroad In October, 1856, he was elected
Second Vice President. He held both places
until n year ago last January, when he and
the railroad company parted. j. W. Ken
drick was made superintendent Of the road
Immediately. but the Office Of Second Nice1
President was left vacant until the last an
nual meeting Of the Board OF Directors ON
Sept 10 last when II. Prescott was elect1
ed to All the place. Gen Anderson becamel
connected with the road through the agency
of Frederick Billings, who was its President
ut the time In Sept. 1881, Henry Willard
was elected President Of q reorganized Board
Of Directors. In Sept, 1883, MIR. Willard
failed,
In 1884 Mr.. Willard resigned the Presidency
of the road but in 1856 he again became
director Of the road, and on Dec. 80, 1887.
Gen Anderson was forced to resign. Since May
/ Gen. Anderson had attended TO his business
affairs in the Office Of W. II. Whiting Mt l55
Broadway, N. Y. He Was interested in a COM
pany engaged in manufacturing automatic
alarms. and he was also doing some 'rk
along the const for a Southern company.
Gen. Anderson was a taciturn man, and made
few friends. Those who did know him intim-
ately knew scarcely anything OF his home
life He leaves a widow and several children.
Mrs Anderson has been living near Sing Sing
with her two unmarried daughters and two
sons A married daughter lives In Vermont
The children are all grown UP.