The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-05-24
GEN. ANDEsoN's SUICIDE.
A Wide Circle OF Friends Shocked
at the News That Ee Had Killed
Himself in Philadelphia.


Himself in Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA. Special Telegram, May 15.
The guests Of the Lafayette hotel were
startled at midnight last night by pis
tol shot which echoed through tho cor
rdors of the hostelry. A night wath-
man who WINS on duty at the time also heard
the report and following the direction from
which noise came, ascended to stairs to the
fourth floor and burst open the door of q
toilet room. On the floor laid a fashionably
dressed man, apparently sixty years Of
was dead: Beside the body lay revolver Of
the bulldog pattern. He had registered an
hour before, signing his name as A. Andcr-
son of New York. To-day Gen. Mer-
rili md John @. Anderson OF New
York identified the dead man us Gen,
man in the construction Of tile Northern Pa
clfic railroad. Young Mr.. Anderson taid his
father had left his home in Sing Sing last
Sunday to fill an engagement with Gen.
Merrill About year ago the general
contract mountain fever. This troubled him
family no iced that tho ailment was growing
ON him but were helpless to counte.act its
influence. Mr. Anderson assured the
coroner that his fathers domestic re-
latIOns were pleasant The funeral was In
easy circumstances, had sufficient money to
of any business tSoublea He said no be-
lieved bis father 10 have been insane at
the time OF the shooting. Gen
Merrill stated that he had noticed
indications Of mental derahgment in his
friend during tho past year. He would AZ
times place his hand to his heud in sn absent
sort Of way, and during conversation would
talk about irrelevant matters
NEW YORK. Special Telegram. May Is
Gen Andcrson's home proper was at Sing
Sing. where with mis- wife and several grown
up children he occupied q handsome
country residence. The family had. for
for fifteen years past, stopped at the
Everett house In Union square when visiting
this city, which happened frequently.
The report that he hud been on spree
him to be q steady drinker, but had
never before heard OF his being visibly
agected by his Indulgence. None Of them
had ever heard Of his being in dlfficultias. or
OF his being engaged in specnlatons
OF any kind, though they acknowledged
case without their knowing anything
about it 10 them the cause of bis suicide
was mystery. Among his family is q son
who assisted him In his office in this city.
Another son Ia said TO be in the railroad buhi-
s ness eSs 9Ss West S,. Ono Of Of his soneh'sf e
Gen. John G fremont At tho Everett house
the report Of Gen. Anderson's death wa, q
shock to all who heard of it The news was
conveyed to the family at Sing Sing, and
response was received stating that Mrs.
Anderson would start at once for Phiiadel-
phia.
Gen. Anderson was born in 1897 at RidReway.
\: Y. and was therefore sixty-two years Of age
tered upon his railway career in s47 as chain
man on tho New York Il New Haven road. but In
. few months was called to the position OF as
sistant engineer OF the Connecticut River road.
His ability az an engineer soon became appar-
ent. and he rose rapidly In his profession. He
eral important railroads. and during the
period OF the war was In the gUvern-
incnt service, being successively assist
ant engineer and chief of construction corps o:
the Army Of the Potomac In virginia: chief en-
ginecr OF military railroads In Virginia: general
itary division Of Memphis. and general snperin-
tendent and engineer OF military railroads in
the United States. After the close OF the war he
again took up the occupation Of railroad build
ing. For three years ending May. lG74. he
vice president and general manager Of the To-
ledo, Wabash q; Western Railroad company. and
n $3.50 was general manager Of the Paducah d
Elizabeth road. He was also At different times
general superintendent OF the Kansas Pacific
ana president Of tho Lafayette Il Bloomington
company. lie enterered tho service OF thu
Northern Pacific a. chief engineer In 1850 ami
held that position up TO- . recent date. lie was
iu fact the engineer who practically began and
continental line. He retired from the director
OF the road about the time that Henry Willard
rcappeared 10 the scene Of action Gen. Antc--
son was without doubt one Of the most eminen,
engineers and ono 81 the rnoss psominens rail.
road men 10 sde U1itsd STATES