Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-30
HsmOrrhagss Continue for Several Days,
Producing Death at Last
BUSY LIFE ENDS At sKTY-THREE
Business Is Built Up and Developed in
Few 8 srt Years
BREATHEs LAST IN CHICAGO HOME
President of Bis Cmpany Crosses Bar,
Leaving others 90 Reap Re-
wards of His SIREN
uous Labors.

CHICAGO, March 2s.-Gustavus Franklin
Swift, president Of the Swift Packing com
pany, died at his home, ls4s Ellis avenue,
early today, Of internal hemorrhages, re-
sulting from a surgical operation performed
several days ago.
Mr.. Swift was SO years old.
The hemorrhage resulted from an opera
tion for an infection OF the gall bladder,
performed on March %. His death was en-
tirely unexpected both by his family and
his physicians. He had given every indi-
cation Of recovery and all danger was con-
sidered passed. In fact, 30 hopeful was
everyone, including himself. that his son.
Herbert l.. Swift, who had been summoned
from Boston. left on Saturday night to re-
turn TO the east. This son was intercepted
at Harrisburg Pa. today by telegram an
nouncing his fathers death.
Mr.. Swift had been suffering for some
time with bladder trouble and a week ago
an operation was determined upon to give
him relief II was not expected that the
operation would prove especially dangerous
and nothing happened TO cause change In
this hopefulness until this morning. His
improvement was stopped suddenly by a
hemorrhage which the doctors we're unable
to check, and which caused his death In a
short time. No arrangements for the fu-
neral nave yet been made.
butcher Leaves Millions.
Gustavaus Franklin Swift began his busi-
ness career as a butcher and died leav-
ing a fortune estimated at from 1000, 900
TO $4,000, 900. This fortune was made in
forty-hve years. He was born at Sandwich.
Mass, in June. 1889. He opened a small
butcher shop in his native town. but re-
moved to Boston when he was less than 30,
where he remained until 1875. coming then
to Chicago.
In that city he engaged in the same busi-
ness and developed the department OF ship
ping live cattle TO eastern markets. In
1877 he evolved plans for the first refrig-
Grating car and dressed meats. instead OF
live animals. were shipped to eastern cities,
He was the pioneer in this kind OF business
and Il was not long before others saw the
advantages of his method and initiated him
Mr.. Swift was not only the Oldest packer
1T the time OF his death. but was the origi-
nator OF the method that has made many
large fortunes. From the small plant
started in 1877 has developed a great cor
poration with branches in st. Louis, Kan
sas City. St. Joseph. Omaha. st. Paul and
Fort Worth, Tex, and with distributing
Offices IN every important city and town In
the United States. and with representatives
Africa. Its employees number 22.e07. Upon
its capital stock of S25. 900. 900 the sales oi
1902 exceeded S200. .OOO, 900.
Mr.. Swift was the father of eleven
children, nine of whom survive him; Louis
F., Edward r., Helen L.. wife OF Edward
Morris; Charles H.. Herbert L.. George II.
Ruth M. wife OF Ernest E. Eversy; Gus
tavus Franklin. jr.. and Harold H.. ali
of whom live in Chicago,
Mr.. Swift trained all of his sons in the
packing business. His oldest son, Louis f.
Swift. is vice president OF the company and
all the other sons hold responsible posi-
tions In It.
j. Ogden Armour. when told of Mr.
Swift's death, said:
1 am very sorry to hear It. Mr.. Swif
was a great man, a great organiser, anC
had great ability. He left a business o.
tremendous proportions, but left II in gooC
shape, 80 that 1t cannot be hurt by hi
death, His sons are fully competent Il
manage II, in fact have been doing so fo
some time over a year ago Mr. Swtf
began TO turn the reins over to them. al
though preparing for this.