The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-06
DEATH OF FRANK THOMSON
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROADS HEAD
SUCCUMBS TO HEART DISEASE

Stricken on May 16-Rsoontly He Showed
Signs of Improvement, but q Turn for
the Worse CRmo-Hh Rise to the
Presidency of u Great Railroad system.
PHILADELPHIA. Juno 6.-Frank Thomson.
President OF the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany, died at 1880 o'clock to might at his home,
Oorkerhill. at Merton Station. He went West
on an inspection tour on May 49, and was
stricken at Indianapolis with an affection OF
the heart. He arrived homo on May 20 and
has since been under tho care OF physicians.
A few days lago he showed signs OF rapid i'm
provement. and his family and the men asso-
dated with him In tho management OF the
great railway system OF which he was the
head were greatly encouraged. This evening
his condition took rapid and unexpected turn
for the worse. Dr.. Jacob z. Da Costa was sent
for. but he arrived Just rs Mr. Thomson died
Tho other physicians with him were Drs
Lodge and Hutchinson.
His daughter and two sons. his chief assist
ant Edward T. Postlethwaite. and his private
The Vics; Presidents and other leading ofiioers
OF the railway corporation were communicated
sne Sy Tso the Pe1Dn1ap Railroad has
had only three Predicate; Frank Thomson.
lSoEs Was 81 hr Pssi fhons
son. IKE Cpl: Thons s A. Scott and Mr.. Roberts.
step into any place from track walk or and ma
sSas sBons ss dd T aS
nsd ae sST7Sf 81 tss e do
Altoona to the Presidency. and What f might Be- t
called his motive power was his pluck and per-
MIR Thomson came from Scotch ancestry.
His father became a lawyer. and served In Con-
anE ID f a1se s
July 8. 1S4l. His rudimentary and classical
hut VA Ia sS S es 5bert h
H9E 'G With sN' AND AND o 6fe sqand
open tTS was JOB in the Altoona Shops Of the the
PennsylvaniH railroad. He went there to
course OF training in this great school Of APP
piled science graduated hin a mechanical
e STAGE SSu ID build Ss
crude iron to the finished engine on the rails.
Thy The it. H nsoaGst S d h HIN t2 as engine
snt Of the, road at that time. and was naturally
was s% an o obserVan; man took great inter,
est in the men ,1,S under him. and Thomson at,
open Just at that moment. The Colonel was
appointed an Assistant Secretary OF War by
sn es0a Qualified '9 HIM ms psrticuary to tteke
charge OF all the matters relating to the
81 10ps ana sYPps Hs
he offered him the place Of aid and chief assis-
tant. which was accented by the younE engl-
the scene OF his operations being the South aud
the upper Southwest. where he constructed
been injured by the exiGoncies OF war. and di-
rected the transportation OF troops and the for
The siSna SUCCESS &c Of his eo,s In this dam
gerous undertaking not only received fitting
@ @ hat Rs S Ss had mnso Rs
In his early estimation OF Mr. Thomson. and
when the active hostilitles were over and he
and his assistant were relieved from military
duty the Colonel had him marked for railroad
In June. 1854. Mr.. Thomson was appointed
superintendent Of the Eastern division Of the
Philadelphia and Erie Railroad, which occupied
encs prom otion came rapidly. In March 1878.
made sTpeTn1s9Gsnta Of nStye power
to the Ts S9 o Ss
the system which has since produced the loco:
motives known as the Fenhsyly s7i RI Rar0ad
ei the Pennsylvania Railroad system east OF
As general, manager Mr.. Thomson intro
duced a number Of reforms IN the manage Is
standard track and solid road bed owe their ex X:
9acf, tnspss,ion aaG the award q prizes
Instituted by him: The adopti9iSn Of, u, :
tation OF their grounds. the use Of the block
signal system and other safety appliances
were all distinctive features OF his manage
ing that high grade OF, discipline for which the
Pennsylvania RAILROAD Is noted.
On Oct. l. 1882. Mr.. Thomson became Sec
opd Vice. President, and on Oct: II. 1899. was
Se 'fS HGs' Of First
charged with the traffic arrangements OF the
system both in the freight and passenger
branches, and as administrative officer OF
the road and direct representative OF the
70 their fullest fruition the progressive re-
forms which he instituted as general manager
His direct supervision OF the traffic arrange
ments existing between the pennsylvania
touch with all the railway interests Of the coun;
try and he was one OF theibest informed oil
American railroad managers:
Mr.. Thomson's duties as the manager OF
that he was never identified with many other
public institutions. A notabl lie exception, how
ever, lie tho Equitable Life Assurance Society
OF which he was director:
aaurhte rot Of the late Bsnjamin 6. Clarke D
New York. having died in June. 1897
and Frank 9. and Clarke Thomson, both
students at Harvard. composed his family
and music. and in his homo at Corker
Of art. He was great fisherman and hunter
and spent all OF his spare TINE In 3ppit,9fid1G!
Club. the Union Club OF New York. the. Law
yers' Club. the Century Association and 0! {
dozen Philadelphia clubs.
Obituary Notes.
Isaac G. johnson, a well-known iron manu-
lecturer. died on Saturday At his home, il