The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1907-01-03
MR.. CASSATT DIES
OF HEART DISEASE
The Pennsylvania President Expires
in Chair.
FGICk OR REA MAY SUCCEED HIN.
Developments in the Interstate Com
merce Commissions Investigation of
Rebates Imposed Strain Upon Him
That Is Believed to Have Much to
DO With His Breaking Down.

OO Win his breaking DOWN.
Philadelphia Especially .-Alexan-
der Johnston Cassatt, president OF
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company,
ana one of the foremost railroad men
and financiers in the country, died
suddenly at bis residence, in this
city, Friday. Mr.. Cassatt, who was
little more than 67 years of age,
was stricken with heart disease short
~ before 1 o'clock, and died before
assistance could be given him. He
was a victim of an acute heart at
tack known professionally as 1.-The
Stokes-Adams syndrone."
Though Mr.. Cassatt's death was
entirely unexpected, he had been in
Ill health for nearly a year. His con-
dition was aggravated by an attack
OF whooping-cough which he con-
tracted from his grandchildren while
at Bar Harbor in September. He
never entirely recovered from the
effects of the attack, and when he
returned to Philadelphia he remained
Tor several weeks at his country
home, in Haverford, before he re-
sumed his arduous duties in con-
nection with the management of the
He was much improved by the rest,
and early in October he began go
ing regularly to his office. but short
~ atterward he was again stricken,
having contracted q cold. At that
time 1t was denied that his condl-
tion was serious, and there was no
intimation that he was suffering from
any heart affection.
Gave Irn On HE Rf,-fIdav
During November he was sufIi-
ciently recovered from his illness to
resume his visits to Broad Street
Station, and he continued attending
to important matters until his birth
day, December s. On that day he
was 67 years of age, and after cele-
brating the event with his family
he never returned to his duties at
the railroad offices. Again it was
reported that he was in serious
health, but this was denied. and it
was stated that he was suffering from
a slight cold and was giving atten-
tion TO only such important business
matters as were brought to his at
tention.
Mr.. Cassatt spent much of his
time driving, and he was out as late
as last Monday. Subsequently, he
was known to have been confined to
bed at his residence, at 2O2 West
Rittcnhouse Square, but even then
his condition was not regarded as
alarming. While not feeling entire
ly well, Mr.. Cassatt arose from his
bed Friday morning, but remained
IL his room. He seemed to lie in
good spirits, and his family was not
alarmed ABOUT his condition and had
no thought of his death
Stricken In His Chair.
Shortly before / o'clock, while sit
ting in a chair in his apartments,
he suffered an acute heart attack
and became unconscious. His wife
and his daughter, Mrs. w. Plunkett
Stewart. were with him, and his pri-
vate physician, DR.. J. H. Musser, was
summoned, but he was dead when
the physician arrived. DR.. Musser
said that death had been almost in
StantaneOuS.
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 associ tes,
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
most popular. The effect Of his death
upon the local stock market was
not as great as might have been ex-
pected. Pennsylvania was quoted at
l3S Il when the news was received
and the STOCK dropped only q on
the report.