The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-10
SECRECY REGARDING
 ILLNESS OF HARTMAN
 KEPT UP ID THE END
News Is Sent to New York City Before It Is Given Out to the Waiting Newspaper
 Men Gathered at
 Arden Estate.

Arden, N. Y, September 9.-Edward H. Hartman, the greatest organizer of rail- roads the world has ever known, met the only lasting defeat of his active life today at the hands of death.
 Secluded in his magnificent home on Tower Hill, surrounded by members of his family, physicians and nurses, he sue cumbed to an intestinal disorder this aft ernoon, after fight against disease which will rank for sheer grit with his remarks able struggles in the financial world.
 The exact time of his death is known only in that little circle of relatives and associates who had so effectively shielded Mir Hartman from all outside annoy ances during his last illness. The time was given to the world at 335 D. m., but Mrs. Mary Simonds, sister of the dead man, said tonight that the end had come at 1:3O, more than two hours previous. Whether this apparent discrepancy has any bearing on the current belief that every effort was made to lessen the in- huence of the fnancier's death on the New York stock exchange is problemati- cal But 1t is significant that the time of his death, as officially announced, was just 35 minutes after the trading had ceased on the exchange.
 Mir. Hartman died peacefully and al- most to the end his brilliant. mind re- tained its integrity After a relapse on Sunday he sank steadily and soon after the noon hour today there came a relapse Nx,Ii icb aI ,;, wife. two daughters, the Misses Mary and Carol, and his sons, who have been con stantly with him, assembled at the bed side and a courier was hastily dispatched for Mrs. Simonds, whose home Is in Arden, three miles from the Tower Hill mansion.
 Driving hurriedly up the mountain, Mrs. Smonds entered the great silent house in. time to be present at her brother death. She joined the wife and children who, with w. G. Lyle of New York and Or lando Hartman, a brother. and the nurses, formed a group at the bedside. No spiritual adviser was at 1.and. The swift est automobile in the Hartman garage had been dispatched for the Rev. Dr. J. Holmes McGuinness, an Episcopal rector
 
 sonal chaplain, but he was not at home When found later although rushed up the mountain side at breakneck speed, he did not arrive until death had come to Arden house.
 Secrecy Unbroken.
 With the secrecy that has been main- tained at the Hartman house unbroken to the very end, news Of Hartman death was conveyed to New York before 1t came to the valley below Arden.
 Then by way of New York the report that had arrived at the great estate on Tower Hill spread rapidly and confirma- tion was sought at the residence by tele- phone. During the past 10 days rumors have been so persistent and variable that little credence was at first given the re- port and 1t was shock to the Hill when the report was confirmed. MT. Hartman died at S:05 p. m. it was announced by someone. evidently an employe at the Hartman estate. It was later announced to the news- paper men who were still camping at the foot of the mountain:
 You may all quit work; MT. Hartman is dead"
 Orlando Hartman discussed the funeral arrangements briefly tonight. He said Mr. Hartman would be buried in the family grave yard behind St. Johns church at Arden. He will rest beside his eldest son, E. H. Hartman, Jr., who \ died 22 years ago, soon after the family first came to Arden.
 A shaft of blue stone, quarried from the steep sides of Tower Hill. marks the grave of the baby Edward. and 1t is prob- able that a similar stone of moderate size will be erected over the last resting place of this distinguished financier. The fu- neral will be held at 3 80 Sunday next
 No Statement Issued.
 Dr. Lyle, who has been MT. Harriman's physician throughout this last illness. has issued no statement concerning his Ill., ness or the cause of death, but the gen eral understanding is that there was no operation. Mrs. Simonds discussed her brothers death this evening with more freedom than any one else, but even she pro- fessed not to know the exact nature of his ailment.
 She said emphatically that there had been no operation Her husband. Charles D. Eimonds, said he had not arrived at Arden in time to see MT. Hartman be- fore he died MT Simonds said that his brother r-in-law died at SS5
 Former Judge R. s. Isovett, chief coun- gel for the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific. did not reach Tower Hill in time for a last conference with his chief. It was 5:& this evening when he reached, Arden, and he declined to say anything V regarding the time, the cause or any bother circumstances surrounding MT. liar riman's death.
 Last Talk With Price.
 Earlier in the day. however, before the isis was at hand, MT. Hartman talked th Thomas B. Price. his personal secre-
 ', in the New York offices of the
 pn Pacific This was one of the
 ngest evidences that the railroad mans
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