The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-29
President Of Pennsylvania Road
and Prominent in Finance
AEALTH WAS BAD FOR YEAR
He Was 67 Years of Age, and Attended
to His Duties Up to Last Birth
y, day, December a-Leaves
Over $5o,ooo,ooo.

PHILADELPHIA December 2S.-Alexander
Johnston Cassatt, president of the Penn
sylvania Railroad company and one OF
the foremost railroad men and financiers
in the country, died suddenly at his
residence here today. Mr. Cassatt, who
was a little more than 81 years of age,
was stricken with heart disease shortly
before 1 o'clock, and died before assist
ance could be given. He was victim
of an acute heart attack known profess
sionally as "the Stokes-Adams syn
drome"
Though Mr.. Cassatts death was entire
iy unexpected, his health had been bad
for nearly year. His condition was
j aggravated by an attack of whoopng
cough which he contracted from his
grandchildren while at Bar Harbor In
l September. He never entirely recovered
I from the effects of this attack.
Improved BY Rest.
He was much improved by several weeks
rest and early in October he began go
ing regularly to his office, but shortly
afterward he was again stricken, having
contracted a heavy cold During Novem-
Der he was sufficiently recovered from
his illness to resume his visits to, Broad
tend TO important matters until his birth
day, December s. After celebrating that
event with his family he never returned
to his duties.
Mr.. Cassatt spent much of his time
driving and was out last Monday. Sub
seouently he was known to have been
confined to his bed, but even then his
condition was not regarded as alarming.
AT1 Cae
satt arose from his bed this morning,
but remained in his room. He seemed to
he in good spirits and his family had no
thought of his death. Shortly before l
O'Clock, while sitting in chair in his
apartments, he suffered an acute neays
attack and beeanes unconseious. His
\ wife and his daughter, Mrs. w. Punkett
Stewart were with him, and his private
physician, DR.. j.. II. Musser, was. sum-
moned, but Mr. Cassatt was dead when
the physician arrived.
Death instantaneous.
DR.. Musser said that death had been
almost instantaneous.
The news of Mr. Cassatt's death was
at once flashed to the financial and bus-
ness section of the city, causing much as
tonishment, since the public and even
his closest business associates were given
TO understand that he was not seriously
Ill.
The announcement of Mr.. Cassatt's
death caused grief to every official and
employe in the Pennsylvania railroad
offices, with whom he was popular. The
effect of his death upon the local stock
market was not as great as might have
heerA expected. Pennsylvania quoted
at 13S14 wnssa .ha- news was received,
and the stock dropped only 90 oI,-.ha
report.
Mr. Cassatt's condition had not been
thought such as to suggest any definite
arrangements for the succession to the
presidency, and the board of directors
will not meet to transact official business
until after the funeral, for which arrange
ments have not yet been announced.
First Vice President Green will have
charge of the affairs of the railroad COM
pany for the present.
Broke Down Under Work.
The operation of the railroad in the
last year is said to have had much to
do with the breaking down of Mr.. Cas-
salts health. He had just gone to Eu-
rope for rest when the sensational de-
velopments in the interstate commerce
commission investigation of rebates
brought him home, and he threw himself
into the breach in an effort to bring
about an amicable settlement of the
question.
Deprived of his rest abroad he plunged
into routine work until he went to Bar
Harbor, where in his overworked state
he contracted whooping cough.
Aside from being the head OF the Penn
sylvania railroad Mr.. Cassatt was presi-
dent of six other companies and di-
rector in twenty-three concerns. principal
1y Transportation companies, banks ahd
trust companies His wealth is estmat-
ed at between $50, 100000 and $75,oOOooo.
\ Sketch of Life.
Alexander ]. Cassatt was born in Pitts
burg December IS, 1899 His father, Robert
S. Cassatt, for a number of years
closely connected with the financial and
Industrial interests of western Pei.t wi
= w MIA and was the first mayor of Allie
faAqy City. The elder Cassatt removed
EUROPE and young Cassatt took up a
Sc of study in the University of
llstadt Upon his return to America
Ntered the Rensselaer, Polytechnic col
at Troy, N. Y. from which insti-
he graduated in 1859, as a civil en-
1. From this time on his rise in
railroad world was rapid.
lin 1861 he was appointed a rodman on
the Pennsylvania railroad. The ability
shown in this post attracted the notice
of his superors. and wien in 1854 the
Pennsylvania Railroad company assumed
control of the Philadelphia and Erie
railroad, Mr.. Cassatt was transferred to
remove, Pa, ana entrusted Will tHe
duties of resident engineer of the middle
division. He held important positions with
the Philadelphia and Erie and Pennsyl-
vania railroad until 1871, when he was
made general manager of all the Penn
sylvanla lines east of Pittsburg and Erie.
After the death of ]. Edgar Thomas.
president of the railroad company, re-
organization of the higher officials be-
came necessary and Mr.. Oassatt was on
July l. 1874, advanced to the position of
third vice president. which office he filled
until June /, 1880 when upon the retire
ment of Col. Thomas A. Scott, then presi-
dent of the company. and the accession
to the presidency of George B. Roberts.
he became first vice president.
Retired to Private Life.
On Septembr 30, 1882 he voluntarily
resigned hfs ONCE and retired to private
life. On September L. 1883 he was elected
. director of the Pennsylvania Railroad
nampany. and was elected president June