The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-29
.CO[. RUSSELL'S DEATH
 CAUSES DEEP SORROW
Was Man Beloved Alike of
 Rich and Lowly
NEWS WAS GREAT SHOCK
Reassuring Messages Received Here Yesterday Afternoon, and Hecov- cry Was Thought to Be
 Matter of a Few Days
BY CLYDE W. ENNIS

1
 The alarming reports of the indispo
 sition of Col. Edward L. Russell, vics president of, the Mobile and Ohio rail
 road, cast a gloom throughout Bir'
 min gham which deepened into un lfeigned sorrow when 1t was made
 known that the popular railroad mar
 and public citizen had died in Washing
 ton. Ills death, coming 80 sudden, ant within a few days. comparatively, since
 he was in Birmingham, and In goot
 health, served to add to the, grief fel
 here In the death of the lamented rail roader.
 l There was perhaps no man Tn south ern railroad circles who commanded {
 position like the late Colonel Russell i Since 1875, when he was appointed so l licitor for the Mobile and Ohio rail road. he has been in the active service of that company. being appointed vict president in absolute control when tht
 Southern Railway company purchased | the system.
 ], He passed through Birmingham Jan
 uary 15, en route to Washington where
 he was to have attended an executive
 meeting of Southern railway executive heads. It was reported that cold was contracted while in New York
 city, resulting in rapid pneumonia ant 1 his death when Washington wal
 reached. While here Colonel Russell
 expressed his regret over his inability
 to attend the inauguration of Governor O'Neal, of whom he was very fond | and between the two there existed q lfriendship of long standing.
 The death of Colonel Russell among
 railroad officers, employees. business | men and in political circles, will be the occasion of more than ordinary | regret.
 He was an ex-Confederate soldier and 1t Is well remembered that when the general reunion of those brave he- roes was held here he made an ad- dress in which his very being entered because he, with them, had suffered the priyations and heartaches of that fruit less struggle.
 His death, coming as it did after re- assuring messages had been received here from Southern railway executives and so announced. contributed to the intensity of the shock his death ere ated. It was stated yesterday. at the local offices that his death was not expected on the other hand, that his condition was not at all alarming. In railway circles he was looked upon as one of the strongest men of the south He created a new position for the guidance of the railroad men by keeping in public discussions and never permitting an opportunity tc pass to point out his opinions upon lqueatians, facing Alabama or the sotth The present administration was un. usually friendly to Colonel Russell, be- cause of his activity and influence ir the late political battles of this state He opposed violently the enactment soi constitutional amendment and gave his power and political sagacity to the fdefeat of that particularly obnoxious measure. He consistently followed that battle up by supporting Colonel O'Neal for governor and 1t Is safe to say that he was among the most gladdened men in the state when the battle of the ballots ended and his favorite was elected. He was withal a warm ad- mirer of the distinguished Selma cit | izen and revered him for his great deeds for the safety of Alabama. On every political issue, however, Colonel | Russell assumed a positive stand and never bent In the furth herance of his ideas along such lines.
 By reason of this fact he was in- tensely sorry to be absent from the in- auguration of the man in Montgomery who incorporated his very own ideals of statesman.
 Colonel Russell possessed captivat- l ing personality which won him friends and admirers in every walk of life, and in every hamlet of Alabama he was known by some one who would speak in the highest terms of the departed railroad leader. He was especially fond of younk folks and on his private car of the Mobile and Ohio railroad he often carried youngsters to Wash ington or New York simply for the pleasure of their vivacious company He was democratic, friendly with even the porters Of his trains, and every em- ploye of the great Mobile and Ohio system will grieve when the message of his death Is given them this morn ing.
 In newspaper circles there was per- haps few men so popular. He always received the "boys" in 8 friendly and truly gracious manner which caused him to be looked forward to by the fraternity with above the average in- terest.
 His friendship for newspaper men as- sumed novel expression and tho entire number remembered that time when he loaned his private cal to one of the boys" to take wedding trip through the west. That was In the days of passes.
 In all he was an unui,uAlly attractive man, strong leader. a man who be- lieved in the other felluw and one who
 will be missed in Alabama affairs.