New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-05
CHARLES PRATT DEAD.
A SUDDEN AND FATAL ATTACK IN HIS
OFFICE

SKETCH OF THE CAREER OF THE STANDARD
OIL MILLIONAIRE AND PHILANTHRoPIsT.
Charles Pratt, the millionaire oil merchant
vice president Of the Standard Oil Company, and
founder of the great industrial school known as
the Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn. died suddenly
Yesterday at his Office In the Standard OIL Bulio-
Ing. No. &c Broadway, this city. Heart disease
ia supposed to have caused his DEATH as II occurreu
suddenly.
He had not been feeling well for the iast tnreo
or four days, but was not prevented from a''ehu-
ing to his business. He was present at nee'
ing of the executive committee OF the o.s'nu"io
Oil Trust which was held at noon hoou'
O'Clock after the meeting had been adjourned
he had luncheon with H. H. Rogers vioe-presioen,
Of the Pratt Manufacturing Company anu soone
to be feeling well, for he ate hearuy' nc -
retired to his private office, whlch o0 80,
mart of room 25 Of the Standard vi -
ing, and lay down on lounge AC 80.
be arose, saying he felt faint Beiore ms p.'," s
secretary, A. c. Bedford, came TO MS slue ne A'.
s.Sisn hsck ON tho lounge. but had not lost con-
sciousness. Mr.. Bedford Immediately sent lor Ut
S.S~,ao ,vbo yvas az the Equitable Building, and
who is one of the examiners of the Equi'a'ie
IJ,e He arrived at Mr.. Pratt's office in Re"
moments and thought Mr.. Pratt was suffering o"iS
from an attack of indigestion; but as MI. rra.V
was not recovering as rapidly as he snoulu IL LIS
illness were slight. DR.. Seaman renamed aV lis
side. -,- .ho
In the meantime Mr.. Bedford. thinking the
illness serious sent for Ut W.
Clark. one of the examiners Oh 'he
Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company a'
No. WaIl-st DR.. Clark came in few minutes
and found Mr.. Pratt sinking rapidly. IL was 'ileh
thought best to send for Mrs Pratt ana Dr
for ilt
Paine, of Brooklyn, who is Mr. Pratts family
musician At haf-past Mrs Pratt, her son
Charles B., and her daughter, Miss helen' ar
rived. Mr.. Pratt recognized his wife and said
aGive me air. few minutes afterward Dr.
Paine arrived. He saw that Mr.. Pratt was sink
inc rapidly. having alternate chills and fever.
He told Mrs. Pratt that her husband was
diving. This Frustrated Mrs. Pratt and her
daughter. The members Of the Executive Com
mittee Of the Standard Oil Trust were Informed,
and soon after William Rockefeller, H. NJ Flagier
and H. H. Rogers entered the Office MT Prato
then again asked for more air. at eight MIN
utes to he died. Before he died his daughtef'
Mrs Babbott, the wife of his son Charles NJ Fratt'
and John d. Rockefeller reached his side.
A request for permit to remove the body was
addressed to Mr. Wilson, president OF the board Oh
Health At baf-past 10 in the evening 1t was
granted. and the body was removed 70 his home;
No 232 Clinton-ave.. Brooklyn. Mr.. BedfoTd
announced that all the offices IN the STANDARD III,
Mr. Pratt,s interests would be closed until after
the funeral
Mr. Pratt was regarded as the wealthiest resi-
dent of Brooklyn, and his fortune has been est;
mated at as high as SEQ, O00,000 lie was liberal
with his wealth and gave largely TO the Adelphl
Academy. of whose Board Of Trustees he was presl-
dent, and to the Emmanuel Baptist Church, which
be founded. He gave over million and haf
of money to found and endow the Pratt institute
for which he had large plans 70 carry out IN
the future. The management Of the Institute
is in the hands of his sons, and it is supposed that
he had made full provision for it before his death
Mr. Pratt's last business act was TO sign
check for SIS 900 for the aid Of the Brooklyn
Bureau of Charities. He talked only few days
ago of erecting a new building TO enlarge the
scope of the Pratt Institute. He leaves q wife
and eight children, six sons and two daughters
Ch.rlcS NJ, Frederick b. George. Herbert, John.
Henry, Mrs. T. L. Babbott and Miss Helen. The
arrangements for the funeral are not yet COM
pleted.