The sun., 1897-11-11
DIED IN HIS STATEROOM.
CONTRA CToR H. N. BROWN STRIoKEN
WITH HEART DISEASE.

ne was Going to Boston on the Fall River
boat Puritan when Taken Iii-The Body
brought Mers-par. Brown uuiit Part or the
Aaueduct ana was nulidinE the Croton Dan
II. Il. Brown Of 2os7 Fifth avenue died on
Tuesday night on the Fall River line steamer
Puritan while on his way TO Boston. He was one
OF the richest contractors in the country. and had
Just finished large contract at Boston, where
he had been changing the grade of the New
York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad tracks
to eliminate Rrade crossings. Mr.. Brown was
member Of tho firm Of Coleman, Ryan &c Brown
Of l6 Exchange place, which 10 building the
$4,000 900 Croton dam.
Regarding the circumstances Of his death
none Of Mr.. Browns family or friends who were
In this city Yesterday had any definite knowl-
edge. On Monday he was In this city attending
to business. He was at tho Astor House at
noon, and at 8 o'clock he arrived at 125th street
and Eighth avenue by the elevated railroad
on the way to his home. O few blocks
obove. He met some friends and business
associates. whom he told that he was
going to New Haven ON Tuesday morning, but
that he must come back to this city that after
noon and then leave again at night for Boston.
1t 10 assumed that this was what no did. and
that his trip to Boston was in connection with
closing up his accounts there regarding the rail
road work which he had Just finished.
Tho dispatches from Fall River telling Of Mr..
Browns death Say that upon boarding the Puri-
tan here he was assigned to room 291. He had
supper with two acquaintances whom he met on
board. In the dining room he was met by
woman who registered under the name Of
Brown, and had room 290. tho next forward Of
29l. These rooms have a connecting door. Mr.
Brown and the woman whom he met thero left
tho dining room.
Shortly after o'clock physician was sum.
moned for Mr.. Brown, but when q doctor
reached the stateroom he was dead. 1t is said
that tho alarm was given by q woman. and that
she came from Mr.. Browns room. This the
purser of the boat denied, but he denied also
that the woman's room was that adjoining
Browns. Upon tho arrival of tho steamer at
Fall River yesterday morning Medical Examiner
Doan viewed the body and pronounced the case
one OF heart disease. Tho woman, of whom
nothing further could be learned, left tho boat
after the examination and went by train to
Providence
MIR. Browns brother-in-law. DR.. Simon ].
Walsh of this city, went to Fall River yesterday
and started back again last evening with the
body. His wife and family OF seven children,
who have been at the family home at Pittston.
Pa. returned to this city last evening.
Mr.. Brown was q large and very healthy look.
ing man, but he had become convinced recently
that no was suffering from heart disease. Ho
had complained Of trouble with his heart as
long ago rs last June and his brother. in. law,
DR.. Walsh. had diagnosed the trouble as heart
disease. 1t was at about this time that Mr..
Brown was seized with vertigo and fell while
at the ~ork on the new Croton dam. In accord.
ance with advice which he received from his
physicians at that time, he gave up smoking and
| also avoided violent physical exertion.- a. -
Mr. Brown was a sefmado man, and it wal
asserted last night by friends of his that ho wal
certainly millionaire and that his estate might
| be worth Ave or six millions. He was born in
when Central Park was being made. His
| first work In this country was as q
| boy, carrying tools for the men who were pre-.
pairing the park grounds. Then he became q
| finally q contractor: When the Union Pacific
| Railroad was building he was engaged upon
| that work, and he did a lot of railroad building
| In the West under the patronage of Sidney DiL
lon and others.
| In 1873. in company with John J. Quinn, he
| took the contract TO mako the Park avenue i'm
provements. and they built tho tunnel. 1t was
| while engaged on this thet he was married to
| Miss Walsh OF Pittston. Pa. He had lived at
POST Fifth avenue for twelve or fifteen years.
Mr.. Brown built two sections Of tho new
| Croton Aqneduct in association with James T.
| Coleman. These sections. it is said were the
| only ones on which no defects were discovered
| Il was In association with hr. Coleman and Mr.
Ryan that no was engaged in building, the new
years ago. and will take about hve years more
| to fnish.
Mr.. Brown WAS member Of the Catholic and
Manhattan cluba-