The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1906-03-29
NEUROLOGICAL NOTES
DETAILS OF THE DEATH
OF FRANK N. RESTEEN

The Topeka State Journal has the
following account of the death of F. N.
Risteen, formerly master mechanic, OF
the Northern Pacific in Fargo: 7 :
Frank N. Risteerl, who has held the
position of mechanical superintendent
of the eastern grand division of the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
Co. since 1902, died this morning short
ly after o'clock at his home. No. 1916
Harrison street. Mr.. Risteen had been
seriously i'll for the past six weeks, suf-
fering from paralysis induced by stroke
of apople2y. A hemorrhage OF the brain
was the immediate cause OF his death.
For the last year Or more Mr.. Rls-
teen had not been in the best OF health.
A little over a year ago he was strlck-
en- with pneumonia and his recovery was
slow His health had never been robust
since this illness. Just about six weeks
ago he left with party of Santa Fe
officials for a tour of inspection over the
southern Kansas division of the road.
The party laid over at Chanute on Feb.
9. Mr.. Rsteen was travelling in the
private Car of James E. Hurley, the
general manager of the Santa Fe, and
at 2 o'clock the following morning the
porter of the car found Mr.. Risteen in
an unconscious condition in the lavatory.
DR.. Baker, the company's physician al
Chanute, was summoned, and he found
that Mr.. Risteen had suffered a stroke
of apoplexy So serious was the attack
that it was thought best to get Mr.. Ris-
teen home as soon as possible. A special
train was made up. at the direction of
Mr.. Hurley and it made record break
ing run to this city. Mr.. Risteen was
removed to his home in an ambulance
and was then attended by DR.. J. P. Kas-
ter, chief surgeon for the Santa Fe.. As
lie rallied from the stroke. of apoplexy
he was stricken with paralysis which af-.
fected his left side and for a few days
it was a mere question of life and
death with Mr.. Risteen. He survived
the immediate shock, however. and dur
ing the succeeding days and weeks, un-.
til a few days ago, it seemed possible
that Mr.. Risteen might recover. A turn.
for the worse came on Friday last when
all hope for Mr.. Risteen's recovery was
given up. He was not conscious for
some hours before his death.
MIR. Risteen was so years. old and had
wotked his way to the high position
he held from the very foot of the lad
der in the mechanical branch of rail
roading. He was born in the province
of New Brunswick, Can, May "a, 1856.
He started work when a boy as ma
chinist's apprentice in the New Bruins
wick shops of the Canadian Pacific rail-
way. After working at this for two and
a half years he went to work as To-
comotive fireman, which position he held
for three years. Then he worked for
two years in the construction department.
and for the next four years served as a
locomotive engineer. He held a similar
position for five years with the North
ern Pacific railroad and was then made
road foreman of engineers, which posi-
ton he held for seven years, until 1896,
when he was promoted to the position
of master mechanic with headquarters at
Fargo, N. ID. He left the Northern Pa.
cific to take the position of assistant SUI
perintendent of motive power with the
Chicago Great Western Railway Co.,.
and he was in this position when he was
chosen by the officials Of the Santa Fe5
for the place of mechanical superinten-
dent of the eastern grand division Of
the system with headquarters here at
Topeka. During his residence here Mr..
Risteen made a host Of friends. He was
exceedingly popular with the men under
him and had the respect and confidence
.of his superiors. He was considered BY.
them to be one of the most efficient
men in The service.
Mr.. Rsteen is survived BY his widow
and four children, three daughters and
IA son. Arrangements have not been
made as yet for his funeral.