Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-12-29
A. ]. CAsSETTS LIFE
HAD SUDDEN END.
Great Railway Man Stricken in
His Home and Dies Al
most InstaReous|y.
CAUSED BY A HEART TROUBLE
Was Interested in Many Transporta-
tion Companies and Banks and His
. Wealth is Estimated at from $50.
100000 to 100000, ooo-Had Been
overworked for Several Years Past.
(By Associated Preaa.A

bish<T IaiA, IA, Dec. 20
Alexander tombstone Cassatt presi-
dent of the Pennsylvania railroad and
one OF the foremost railroad men and
financiers in the country. died sud
denly at his residence in this CITY
today. wy
MI. Cassatt, who was little moro
than 81 years of age was stricken
WIN heart disease shortly before /
o'clock and died before assistance
could be given him. He was n vic
tim OF acute disease known profess
sionally as "the Stokes-Adams sym.
bronze" Though Mr. Cassatt's death
was entirely unexpected, he had been
In III health for nearly year. His
condition was aggravated by an at.
TACK of whooDing cough which he
contracted from his grandchildren
while at Bar Harbor in September.
he never entirely recovered from the
ettects OF the attack and when he
returned to Philadelphia he remained
LOT several weeks at his country home
in Haverford before he resumed his
arduous duties in the management of
the Pennsylvania railroad and It's nj.
lied interests. He continued attend.
ing important meetings until his
birthday on December s. On that day
he was G7 years of age and after ceIe.
brating the event with his family he
never returned to his duties at the
railroad Offices
His Last Days.
Mr. Cassatt spent much of his time
driving and he was out as late ms last
Monday. Subsequently he was known
to have been confined to bed, but ev.
en- then his condition was not regard
ed as alarming. While not feeling
entirely well, Mr.. Cassatt arose this
morning, but remained in his room.
lie seemed to be in good spirits.
before one o'clock while sitting in
n chair In his apartments he suffered
an acute heart attack and became I'M
conscious. His wife and his daugh-
,er, Mrs. Plnnkett Stewart, were with
him and his physician, DIR. ]. II. Mus.
scr, was summoned, but he was dead
when the physician arrived. DIR. Mus.
ser said that death had been almost
instantaneous.
The news of Mr.. Cassatt's death
was at once telephoned to Broad
street station and was flashed through
the financial and business sections of
the CITY causing much astonishment
since the public, and even his closest
business associates, were given to un.
derstand that ne was not seriously
i'll.
Did Not Effect Market.
The effect of his death upon the
local stock market was not as great
as might have been expected. Penn.
sylvania was quoted at 1913 Ia when
The news was received and the stock
dropped only 3-4 on the report. Some
months ago Mr.. Cassatt made changes
In the organization of the company
which put new duties on some OF the
nlgher officials. Among these was
Samuel Read, the third vice-presJient
and 1T was suggested at the time that
the act was equivalent to plac.
promotion, but there is 10 off.
cial authority to sustain such an
inference and pending the election of
successor, First yice-President
Green will assume charge of the at
fairs of the railroad company.
OverWork Broke Him Down.
The operation of the road has had
much to do with the breaking of Mr..
Cassatts health. He had Just gone
to Europe for rest when the sensa.
tional investigation of the Interstate
Commerce Commission on rebates be.
gan. He threw himself into the
breach In an effort to bring about an
amicable settlement of the questions
at issue. Deprived Of his rest abroad
he plunged into routine work until he
went TO Bar Harbor.
Interested In Many Companies.
Aside from being the head of the
Pennsylvania railroad, Mr.. Cassatt
was president of six other companies
and director in twenty-three con.
Germs, principally transportation com.
panies, banks and trust companies.
His wealth is estimated at between
$50,O00,000 and s60.000,0 900. Mr.. Cas-
sat was born in Pittsburg in 1889, was
educated in Germany and at the Troy
Polytechnic Institute. He entered the
service of the Pennsylvania in 1851
as rodman. In 1867 he became
superintendent of motive power and
In 1873 became general superintend.
ent for the Pennsylvania system
From this time on his rise was
rapid and in 1880 he had become first