The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-08-12

CHICAGO, Aug. ll.-Chss. @. Eddy,
late second yice-president of the Phila-
delphia and Reading railroad and for
mer vice-president of the Norfolk and
Western railroad, was found dead in
Washington Park yesterday evening
with bullet hole in his head and a
pistol by his side. A coroner's inquest
was held to-day which returned a YER
dict that the wound was self inflicted
but the jury failed to throw any light
on the motive for the suicide. Mr.
Eddy and his wife came to this city
nearly three months ago from the East
and secured rooms at the Metropolitan
Hotel whore they have since resided.
About two weeks ago Mrs. Eddy left
the city and went to Wisconsin sum.
mer resort. Colonel Eddy seemed to
take life easily and apparently had no
cares. No one can tell why he killed
himself and the whole sad affair is
shrouded in mystery, as no letters were
left that would in any way suggest a
motive.
Colonel Eddy's death at his own hand
recalls the suicide of Franklin P.
Gowan, president OF the same railway
| system, which occurred in Washington
a few years ago. Prominent railroad
m an, who have known Colonel Eddy for
| years, commented on the strange SINH.
larity.
Charles q Eddy was born at Rich.
field, N. Y, September %, ls4l, and
entered the railway service early in
1sG2 as clerk in the freight office Of
the Milwaukee and Chicago road at Mil
waukee, which position no filled until
July 26, 1862, when he entered the
Federal army as a private soldier under
General Sherman. BY several acts of
| gallantry he attracted the attention of
General Sherman and from the fall OF
Atlanta until the close OF the war he
was confidential telegrapher and cypher
clerk and a member of General Sher.
mans staff. He was in the famous
march to the sea and endured the hard.
ships of that campaign with Spartan
| ejuIage.
In June, 1866, when the victorious
army of Sherman was disbanded, Mr.
ciNJ oCCuItQ Iue pOSlGlOn OIL cllt1
clerk in the freight Office of the Chicago
and Northwestern railroad at Milwau
kee. He resigned in April, 1865, to be-
come general agent for the Lake Super
Tor and Mississippi railroad at Duluth,
MINI. In March, 1870, he was made
agent of the Central Vermont lines at
Duluth, and in 1871 he was appointed
general agent of the Chicago and North
western railway at Council Bluffs, la.
| On November l, 1873. he wae promoted
to assistant freight agent and October
| 10, 1892, he was again promoted and be.
came general freight agent of the same
road. February /, 1888, no was ap-
pointed general eastern agent OF the
Missouri Pacific railway, which place
| he resigned September /, 1884 TO be-
come freight and traffic manager OF the
New York, West Shore and Buffalo
road, which position he occupied until
November /, 1885, when he came to
Roanoke as vice president of the Nor
folk and Western railroad.
Mr.. Eddy was in measure instru-
mental in the wonderful development
OF the great mineral and agricultural
resources OF Southwest Virginia, which
were lying dormant until the advent OF
the Norfolk and Western lie devoted
his time, talent, brain, Drawn and
muscle to the material interests of
whatever section Of country the Norfolk
and Western passed through. He was
firm believer in printers ink and was
one OF the most progressive advertisers
in the country. The pamphlet issued
by the Norfolk and Western under his
direction on sheep farming in Virginia,
gave an impetus to that prof table in
dustry 1t otherwise would not have re
| ceived in a decade.
| Mr.. Eddy received salary from
the Norfolk and Western OF Sl2, 900 per
annum. He resigned the vice. presi-
dency OF the Norfolk and Western
February ID, 1893, to accept a similar
position under President Mcleod of the
Philadelphia and Reading road at a
salary Of S25 600 per year, entering on
his duties February Is.
Shortly after he had begun work in
mis- new position President Nc Leod
resigned and the new president of the
Reading, Mr.. Harris, requested the
resignation of ali the vice. presidents
except Mr.. Voorhees,. and in com pliance
with this request Mr.. Eddy rendered
his resignation May 5.
THE NEWS IN ROANOKE.
The news OF Colonel Eddy's death was
| first received in Roanoke yesterday
when telegram was received at Gen
eral Manager Sands Office from the
Philadelphia office of the Norfolk and
Western, giving extracts from Chicago
dispatch ia Philadelphia paper of
| yesterday. This only contained bare
| statement that Colonel Eddy had shot
himself. Later in the day General
Freight Agent T. s. Devant received a
telegram from Norfolk and Western
official at Chicago confirming the first
report. dispatch was received last
night from Mrs. Eddy at Vice President