The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-09-25
]. H. LEEDS DIES SUDDENLY
SUCCUMBS INTHE GRAND CENTR AL
 STATION, NEW YORK.

When Stricken-A Prominent Man
 Hero and a Great Traveler-EOw He
 Prevented Wreck.
 Hon. John H. Leeds one of the best known men of New Haven, died sud- denly in the Grand Central station in New York yesterday afternoon as he was about to board train for his home in this city. Heart failure was the cause of his death. All efforts to re- store him were in vain and after it was seen that he was dead his body was re- moved to the sub-station and the coro- ner was called and pronounced death due to heart disease.
 Mir Leeds was about siXty-six years of age and had lived in New Haven since 1856. He was born in Darien, this state, where on his fathers farm he lived the life of a strong, robust country lad. When he was about six teen years of age he had chance to distinguish himself. He was on ms fathers place not far from the tracks of the New York, New Haven ana Hartford railroad, which was then a one track road when he noticed pas senger train coming from one direction and, knowing that the passenger tram from the opposite direction was que, ne hastened and 1t didn't take him long to conclude that there must be somethlng wrong. Soon the other train appeareu in sight. He dashed down to the track and waving his coat frantlcally at the fast-approaching engines, managed to attract the attention of the engineers, SD that they brought their trains to stop in the very nick of time. It IS said that the cow-catchers on the en- zines were not more than few yaros apart when the trains came to stop' This was an act that was justly re- warded by the railroad company, Whlch soon after gave MT. Leeds life pass to be used on the road and which was car ried by MT. Leeds to his dying oay'
 MT. Leeds career was characterlzeo bv tact, sagacity, uprightness ana en- terprise,, which marked him as man of great worth in whatever he under took, The officials of the road LOOK great interest in MT. Leeds arter ms quick act in Darien, which no doupt saved many lives, and under their en- couragement he came to New Haven and acquired a thorough knowledge or tho machinists trade at the ra1iroau shons here. Marcus M. Rounds was at that time the master mechanic and ms interest in MT. Leeds, who was then a young man. was great. The late MT. Pounds was the father of ex-Captain Rounds. of the New Haven Grays. MT. Leeds later became railroad engineer and had charge of one of the engines on the road for some time.
 A few years later he became connect ed with the Stamford Manufacturlng company, which soon after estaphsheo a branch barytes mill at Basin wharr in this city. MT. Leeds was made su- nerintendent of the mill and he held that position for quite number or years.
 About fifteen years ago MT. Leeds took another position with the Stam- ford Manufacturing company. The company carried on an extensive spec husiness and MT. Leeds was made thelr nurchasing agent and this business took him to all parts of the world, but chiefly to the Orient. In that capaclty he traVelRQ hAioiS si'-' other man in New Haven and had vls- tied Egypt, Syria, Armenia, Turkey and other far-off countries many times. Several very interesting lectures nave been given by the deceased on his traV- els abroad before New Haven people, and they will be recalled by many m this city.
 Mir. Leeds was a director of the Stam- ford Manufacturing company, the 1aie National bank and the New Haven wa ter company, and was trustee III tne New Haven Savings bank. At one time he was well known in state politics ana was A member of the legislature lie was a strong and effective speaker ana made number of speeches before the general assembly, He was also a. prom inent member of the New Haven Cham ber of Commerce and was one of the nromoters of the movement to build the Derby road. which first ran from New Haven to Derby.
 Mr Leeds came to New Haven in 1856 and shortly after that built the me res idence at SIS Howard avenue, in whlch he lived up to the time of, his death. The deceased also spent several summers aI his cottage at Bradley Po1nt, oaVln Rock. His wife died about two years a po and he leaves an adopted daughter. One brother and one sister also survive him His brother is Pulaski Leeds who was at one time the master mechanic of the Derby road and who at the pres ent time is acting in the same capacity for the Louisville and Nashville rail- road The deceased will be much miss ed by his many friends, by whom he was held in very high esteem.
 W. H. Graham of the W. H. Graham company left last night for New York and will bring the body to New Haven to-day for burial.
 The deceased served the city of New Haven years ago as member of the board of aldermen and later as a mem- Der of the board of fire commissioners, rendering very efficient service.