The San Francisco call., 1895-07-17

attacks of heart trouble, but of late he had
been free from them and was usually in
cheer full spirits. Throughout Monday he
was at his desk in the railroad building
and performed vast amount of work. 1t
as after 5 o'clock in the afternoon when
he concluded debating letters and other
ma tier to his private secretary, b. A.
Worthington. He made no complaint OF
feeling unwel or fatigued. Much OF the
work was personal matter, and there was
sue mass of it that Secretary Worthing-
ton laid the greater part of it over until
yeste rday, little thinking that he would
never see the dictator alive again.
From the railroad building Mr.. Towne
went directly home and spent pleasant
evening in the bosom of his family. He
retired about IL o'clock and slept soundly
until 2 A. NJ. AT that hour he aroused his
wife and complained of severe pains In his
abdomen. 1t was thought that indigestion
was the cause of the trouble, but DR.. Hertz
stein was called in. The physician afforded
some relief, but the pain spread upward
and finally reached his heart
1t was then that the attack assumed
serious phase and the family was called to
the sick mans bedside. Toward the last
the pains were very severe. They lasted
till quarter past o'clock, when the spirit
of the sufferer passed away.
On account of the suddenness of the
pletely prostrated, especially Mrs. Towne
and his daughter, Mrs. G. E. Worden, and
yesterday only the most intimate friends
were admitted to the family residence at
1101 California street, where they called
yesterday to offer their coincidence.
When the announcement of his death
was made at the railroad building it came
as a sudden shock to those who had seen
the dead man to all appearances in the
glow of health the day before. The flag
was hoisted at half-mast on the building at
once.
Throughout the day kilograms of regret
and sorrow poured into the railroad offices
regarding Mr.. Towne's death. One was
from R. Koehler on behalf of the employees
of offices and employees of the lines in Ore
gon; another was from f. Y. Meyers,
chairman B. L. E., Southern Pacific sys-
tenn; another from Division Superintend-
ent J. S. Noble: another from II. j. Small,
superintendent of the M. P. & M; r. G.
Glowing, vice-president of the Western
Union Telegraph Company; another from
]. L. Frazier, Coast Division superin-
tendent; another from 81. M. Yerington,
general superintendent Of the Virginia and
Truckee Railroad; another from M.
Hughitt, president of the Chicago and
Northwestern Railroad, and many others.
The death was announced to the South
ern Pacific employees by General Superin-
tenQenL E1lImOr6 IN q circular, Wl1cQ was
telegraphed all along the line.
In the death of Mr.. Towne there is a
loss of one of the most able and widely
recognized railroad men in the United
States. Throughout his career his life was
an example of personal energy and talent
in his particular line. AS such man
he made an individual record which was
apart from the company with which he
was connected during the greater Part of
his busy life.
At the time of his death Mr.. Towne, al
though q vigorous and strong man, was
not young in years. He was born at
Dresser Hill in Charlton, Worcester
County, Mass, August 8, 1929. 1t was on
that same date that the first railroad en-
gine was placed on the rails at Honesdale,
Pa. He was the eldest of nine children,
education was limited as to books, he in
herited the talent of skill and ingenuity in
mechanics from his father. He early dis
played his ability in this line, and what
ever Mr.. Towne undertook, as builder or
machinlst, he was master of. His execu-
tive ability in this respect was marked
feature of his career.
Mr.. Towne first learned the trade of q
printer and it was while serving his ap-
premiership that he met with his future
wife, Miss Caroline Amelia Mansfield,
daughter of Asahel Mansfield of the town
of Webster. She came of Puritan stock.
He engaged in several callings after this,
and at last selected railroading, as one of
his brothers was in the business. His first
work was as brakeman on the G. B. and
Q. Railroad in 1855, and he remained with
the road in various capacities for eleven
years. After a short service as superin-
tendent of the Chicago and Great Eastern
Railway Company he was offered by G. P.
Huntington the general superintendency
Of the Central Pacific road at q salary Of