The evening times., 1900-05-03

NEW YORK, May IA New Yorker died
yesterday who all his life accomplished re-
suits under handicap that seemed a tual-
ly prohibitive and overwhelming Pa:al-
yzed from his waist down, his physical de-
.velopmens stunted at an early age, weigh
ing not more than seventy pounds at man
hood, unable to set his feet on the ground,
Obliged to be borne about in the arms Of an
attendant everywhere he wanted TO go.
Charles A. Cheever's indomitable spirit
carried his frail and shriveled body far to
ward the front in the race with his fellow
men for success. for wealth, and for dis
tinct.on- Invention was his hobby, but,
unlike most inventors, be had business
ability enough to grasp the commercial
rewards which the world owed 10 the crea-
tions OF his fertile brain, and, though 1t
was reported that one time he did lose con-
siderable money he left, it is said, CON-
Portable estate. ~
Mr.. Cheever died at the home of his
father and mother. John H and Fannie D.
Cheever, at Wave Crest, Far Roekaway.,
yesterday morning. He was in mis- forty
eighth year. Death came Unexpectedly. He
was attacked by the grip about week ago
While his illness was severe, it was not
the cause of his death. He died from
heart trouble. Mr.. Cheever was an inter-
esting man and his life was unique in
many respects Possessed OF an active
brain, determination, energy, pIGck ap.z a
faculty for organization. he ntilizsS Svery
power to the utmost. He was particularly
interested in the development of electricity
and the major part OF his life was devoted
to the exploitation of electrical Inventions.
He was the originator of many electrical
appliances which he patented. Many az
them, while not fundamental in their char
acter. so improved the invention Of others
that they were generally adopted
He obtained patents on electric rock
drills, electrical appliances for elevators,
telephone appliances, and electric FIRE en-
gines- The larger part OF his patents
were for improvements to telephones. IL
is said that his patented inventions num-
bered more than lOO.
Mr. Cheever was born in Boston on
September Z, 1852. When four or five
years old his parents moved to New York.
One OF his first ventures was connected
with the introduction Of the telephone in
New York He became acquainted with
Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor OF
the telephone, when the instrument was
considered nothing but a very remarka-
bic scientific toy. Becoming interested in
the invention, he undertook to get il into
actual use. After much effort he sue
ceeded- He organized the various sub
telephone compan- in New York State
and erected and owned the first telephone
line in New York city. II ran from his
rooms, at SO Fifth Avenue. TO the house
of E. y. DiekersoL, in Thirty->purth
Street. He afterward for the purpose of 1
demonstrating the commercial value of
the telephone, connected his Office in he
Tribune Building with the American In
sutute Fair Over this wire could be
heard the playing OF the band at the fair
He was interested with Thomas A Edi-
son IN Edison's first phonograph, and later
in his graphophone and was identified with
the formation of the North American Pho 1
nograph Company, and organized sub
companies in different parts OF the coun-
try 10 introduce the graphOphone He
organized and for several years was pres I
ident of the Okonite Company, Limited 1
manufacturers of insulated wire and SUBJ
marine cables He was also identified
with company organized TO introduce a
method OF transmitting telegraph mes
sages from moving trains, and conducted
experiments on trains Of the New York 4
New Haven and Hartford Railroad. These
experiments, while, in a measure Success 1
ful, did not prove commercially valuable.
electricity Mr.. Cheever interested himself
in the development ~ real estate with sue
cess. He conceived the idea OF LAYING Z
out one Of the first seaside home PARKS, s
and planned Wave Crest, and later Cedar i
hurst, at Far Rockaway.
Mr. Cheever was great lover Of yacht !
ing He was member OF the New York 4
and Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht clubs.
being one OF the early promoters OF the
latter. He Was greatly interested in the
racing OF small yachts. and owned first I
the sloop yacht Truant and afterward the
schooner yacht Crusader He spent one
season in Europe on the sehOolshfp 81
Mary's, making the trip to and from this
country on board that vessel
Mr. CheeTer was also musical in his
tastes. and was a regular attendant of the
opera He was for many years a promi-
nent figure al DelmOnieo's in Twenty
sixth Street. He made ii a practice 10 dine
there daily for many years. and there his
friends would gather to meet him His
coming and going always attracted attep-
tion. as did all Of his movements because Of
the manner in which he was carried fror,,
place 10 place
Mr.. Cheever was not actively engaged In
business at the time OF his death. having
retired two or three years ago He never
married.