The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-11
DEATH OF Mr.. W. A. RIACH
HE DIED FRIDAY ON THE CURARD
STEAMSHIP UMBRIA.
He Was Returning From a Visit to His
Native ScotiRnd-He Was General
Auditor of the Atlantic Coast Line
n Is a r Loss to the System.

~ ANNoA SPoN1 " -NO'
York that Mr.. w. A Riach, general
auditor OF the Atlantic Coast Line Rail-
road, was dead. The first news of his
death reached here through a telegram
from Mr.. Jonah H. White, eastern
agent OF the Atlantic Coast Line, at
New York, to Mr.. t. NJ. Emerson,
traffic manager. He wired that Mr..
Riach died on Friday on the Cunard
liner Umbria which reached New York
Sunday morning.
| The most sincere sorrow was express
| ed by u people when it was told from
lip to lip that this highly esteemed gen.
tleman had died on ship board while
returning from his European trip.
Mrs. Riach was with her husband
when he passed away.
Mr.. and Mrs. Riach left Whining
ton August 14th and on the 18th sailed
from New York On the Umbria for a
visit to Mr.. Riach's native Scotland.
They sailed on the return trip Septem-
Der 28th from Liverpool and when about
600 miles from New York Mr.. Eiach
died. No particulars of his death have
been received, and while it was known
that he was not in good health when
he left here. his death was a great sur
prise and shock to his numerous
friends n acquaintance. His re-
mains left New York last night and
will arrive here this evening at 6:15
o'clock. His nephew. Mr.. James Sin
clair, left here Sunday night for New
York, and Mrs. Riach's niece, Miss
Belle r. Mann, went on from Richmond,
and they will return here with MRS.
Riach and the remains of her lamented
husband. The funeral services will
take place tomorrow morning at IL
o'clock from the First Presbyterian
church of which the deceased was a
prominent member.
William Archibald Riach was born
September Z, 1S47, at Fochabes, in the
north of Scotland, and had just enter
ed upon the 55th year is his age. He
came to America when about 81 years
of age and located in Chicago where
for many years he was employed in the
general offices of the Pullman Car
Company. He was later made district
superintendent of that company with
headquarters at Atlanta, Ga, where he
resided a numbc~ of years while filling
that position. In February 1882, he
was elected general auditor of the At
lantic Coast Line and since that time
he has resided in Wilmington, in which
city the general offices of the AtlanUc
Coast Line are located.
During the pas 10 years Mr.. Riach
has ably filled the office of general au-
ditor of the Coast Line, and in his death
not only the railroad has lost a strong
man but the city of Wilmington loses a
most estimable and valuable citizen.
Among the officials of the Coast Line
system he was regarded as one of the
most capable railroad auditors in the
United States. He was a man of fine
executive ability and a most accom-
plished Added to this was
a character of the most lofty integrity
and purity. Though holding a position
where he had to grapple great problems,
he was always genial and courteous and
was a most ap~proachable man both in
and out of his office. He was possessed
of marked individuality and strength
of character, and as a citizen was &C
tive in the promotion Of all that was
calculated to protect the morals of the
community and promote the best in
terests of the city. He was outspoken
in denouncing wrong and stood on a
high plane of purity and integrity in his
private and official life. He was public
spirited and was at all times deeply in
terested in the progress and prosperity
of his adopted city. He was a member OF
the board of directors of the Whining
5 ton Savings and Trust Company, and
| for about four years has been a valued
member of the board of audit and
finance which has in keeping the con-
duct Of the financial affairs of the city
In every position into which he was
I called he was zealus and faithful in
a every rus
Mr.. Riach's death is greatly deplored
by the officials and employees of the
. Atlantic Coast Line, and especially thu
= officers speak of the i~rreparable loss
his death is to the system. Yesterday
the general offices were draped in EN-
blemS of mourning and his chair in thu
f auditing department was also drapet
out of respect to his memoir In hi:
. department between 40 and so men arr
employed and yesterday afternoon the!
met and adopted suitable resolution;
= touching the loss of the head of thei
department.. In business he was
strict disciplinarian but those wh'
= worked with him and under him had
very sincere regard for him PERSONAL!
Ind implicit confidence in him in hi
official capacity.
Mr.. Riach married Miss Mariann,
McEwen, who like himself, vas a ma
n tive of Scotland. They had no children
S and she is left to mourn the loss of
most devoted and affectionate husband
In her great bereavement the profound
r est sympathy is felt by he people o
Wilmington. The only relatives whic!
the deceased leaves here are Mr.. VIII
t liam Sinclair, who married his siste
who died about four years ago, and hi
nephews and nieces, Messrs. James, Z
b and William Sinclair. and Mise
5 JEANNE and Mary Sinclair.
n AS a mark Of respect to the memor,
of Mr.. Riach, the general offices of tn
Coast Lin will be closed tomorroy
d morning and will not open for busl
d ness till after the obseQuies.
The members of the board of audi
and finance and the board Of aldermel
o will attend the funeral in a body. The.
viii assemble tomorrow at 1870 a. m
at the city hall and go thence to tn
d First Presbyterian church.
The members of ST. George and >,
Andrews society, of which Mr.. Riac
q was a member, will also attend IN
funeral in a body
1t Happened In a Drug Store.