The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-10-07
PROMINENT CITIZEN DEAD.
Mr.. Preston l.. Bridgers Died Sud-
denly of AppopIexy Last Night-He
Was ON the Streets Wednesday
lie Was One of WiImington's Most
Successful Business Men.

Our city was shocked last night when
the sad announcement was rapidly
spread that Mr.. Preston L. B~ridgers.
one of Wilmington's most prominent
land successful business men, a died
suddenly at his home, 501 South Third
street. The attending physician DR.. D.
w. Bullock, ascribes his death to a
stroke Of appoplexy.
Mr.. Bridgers had beer ailing for sew
Ieral days but was up and was down
town on Wednesday,. tie was out rid
Ing Wednesday morning, and late in the
AFTERNOON was feeling SO unwell that he
took to his bed. His condition was o
alarming, however, till just = few min
lutes before the fatal stroke.
Mr.. BridgerS vas born in Tarboro
and would have reached the 18th year
of his age in November. He vas a son
Iof the late Colonel r. r. Bridgers, of
this city, who was a prominent lawyer
and for many years up to the time of
his death about ten years ago was pres
lident of the Atlantic Coast Line. He is
survived by his mother, Mrs. Margaret
e. BridgerS, of this city, who is now
with her daughter, Miss Lucy Bridgers.
lat Stamford. a summer resort in New
York state. They have been telegraph
lSu ILL GIo wv oAAo wan A~"f SNoAAf-
ford on a special train for New York
whence they will come to Wilmington.
They will probably get here this even
ling at 6 o'clock if they make connection.
He has one brother, Mr.. George Bridg-
lers. h is a resident IF Georgia, and
besides Miss Lucy Bridgers, he has an
|other sister, Miss Mary BIidgers, of this
Icity, who is now here.
Mr.. BridgerS married Miss Elizabeth
Eagles Haywood, daughter o. the late
DR.. Z. Burke Haywood, a prominent
physician of Raleigh. She survives him
with seven children. two sOns and five
who are Mr.. Burke .Bridgers.
"a student at the North Carolina univer-
Miss Lucy Bridgers, Miss Margaret
Bridgers, Master Robert Bridgers, and
bessie, Ruth and Ernestine. The first
three are grown. Miss Margaret Bird
gers is attending st. Mary's college, at
Raleigh, and Mrs. Br1dgerS and some
of the children are there on a visit.
They were telegraphed the sad tidingS
and left Raleigh last night for a sad
home coming. The ~profoundest SYM
|pathy of this entire community goes out
to those who have suffered tins sudden
and terrible bereavement.
Great grief is felt in Wilmington over
the untimely death of Mr.. BriGgers. He
was one Of Wilmington's most promi-
lnent and successful business men and
was a gentleman of noble Characters
tics. He was a man OF lofty character,
land those who knew him intimately es-
Iteemed him most highly. He was a
man of fine capability, was a hnancier
Iof splendid ability. and was eminently
successful as a business man. He be-
lgan life as a clerk with the Atlantic
Coast Line at Richmond and Was SUISSE
quently a conductor He came to Will
mington in the eighties, entered into
partnership with Mr.. n. Is. Rankin in
l1SS6, and till about 1884 the firm of
Bridgers & Rankin were among Will
largest grocery merchants.
Mr.. Bridgers was appointed United
States consul at M~ontevideo, Brazil, dur
ling President Cleveland's first admins
Itration. He filled that position with
tgreat satisfaction to the administration,
and resigned it and came home to look
latter his business interests. After with
drawing from the firm of Bridgers &
Rankin about eight years G Mr..