Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-08-18
RAILROAD NEWS.
Matters From Here and There Concerning the
Great Corporations.

Great Corporations.
Considerable comment has been
caused during the past week by the
suicide of Col Charles g. Eddy, a
former vice president Of the Norfolk
& Western Railroad. For the past
two months Col. Eddy and his wife
had been in Chicago, staying at the
Hotel Metropole. Mrs. Eddy went to
Beloit few days previous on visit.
Thursday Col Eddy bought costly
revolver and went TO Washington
Park, a Chicago pleasure ground, and
shot himself through the head, dying
almost instantly. He left a letter for
his wife, telling her he was going to
join their little daughter in the spirit
land. Col. Eddy was born in Rich
field, n. Y, in lS41. He began his ca
reer as a railway clerk. During the
war he was confidential telegraph OPP
orator and chief clerk TO Gen. W. L.
Sherman. After the war he again
went into the railroad business. In
1885 he left the West Shore Railroad
to become e-president Of the Nor
folk & Western Railroad at a salary
of SO, 900 year. He became we'll
known throughout this section while
he was connected with the \. & W.
Last February he resigned his place
with this road to accept position
with the Reading Railroad Company,
rs president, at So, 900 year.
In less than three weeks the Read
ing road went into the hands of
receiver, and on May 1st Col. Eddy,
with all the other presidents,
save one, was relieved Of his Office.
Since that time he had not been en-
gagged in any business, but he had
some money laid up, and was far from
being in want. No cause can be as
signed for his suicide, save his dread
of the pains in his bead that had
bothered him long time. 1t is said
that he carried $50, 900 life insurance.
The retrenchnent in railroad eX-
penses is being extended to all branch
Is of the service. Mention was made
in the REGISTER last week Of great
reductions in the forces at work in
the shops Of the \. 4 w. Railroad
By an order that went into effect on
Monday many telegraph operators
are cut off along this road. On this
division superintendent Cook has
closed the telegraph offices at Ashby,
Manor, Vaughn's Summit and Ing
ham, and taken away the night Oper
ators al Shepherdstown, Charlestown,
Berryville and White Post. 1t is said,
also, that reductions have been made
in the clerical force OF the y. x w.
The b. & O. Railroad issued orders
last week still further reducing the
time Of its shop hands, and the men
are now working but two days in n
week at Martinsburg and other points
along the line. Within the past week
the New York Central Railroad has
taken off four daily trains, each way,
between New York and Chicago.
John b. Norton, brakeman in the
yards OF the b. & O. Railroad at
Brunswick, while coupling cars Wed
nesday of last week had his head
crushed by two large piece of lumber
that projected over the cars. He
died from the injuries Thursday
morning. He leaves a widow and
four children.
The treasurer Of the Cumbe rland
Valley Railroad states that notwith-
standing the great business depres-
sion existing over the country at pres
ent the earnings Of the Cumberland
Valley Railroad for the first six
months of this year are but S2,S27GO
less than for the corresponding period
OF last year
At the stockholders meeting Of the
West Virginia Central and Pitts burg
Railroad at Piedmont last week II.
q. Davis, Y. B. Davis S. b. Elkins,
r. C. Kerens, A. p German, John \.
Hambleton, w. w. Taylor and Alex.
Shaw were elected directors. H. &.
Davis was elected president.
The general managers of the eastern
railroads have virtually ordered an
advance in Worlds Fair rates by re-
storing the rates of April 10th. The
Pennsylvania Railroad strenuously
opposed the increase.
The Northern Pacific Railroad and
its tributaries have made ali assign
ment and on Tuesday were placed in
the hands OF a receiver.
A b. & 0, employee named Fred
Smith had his foot cut off by the cars
at Brunswick Sunday evening.
Changers P'cnc.
The Changers twentieth annual in
terstate picnic exhibition, at Will