Norwich bulletin., 1911-08-09

Paris, Aug. 9.-John w. Gates, the American financier, sdied early this morning in the arms of his wife and his son. The end was peaceful and it seemed as though he was falling asleep. The usual restoratives failed in the last crisis Others present at the bed side, besides the members of the fam ily. were Drs. Gros and Reeves.
 Had Lived on Oxygen Week.
 For a week past MT. Gates had prac- tically lived on oxygen inhaled through tube, which was constantly fastened 10 his robe beneath his mouth. When the heart failed oxygen was admins tered more freely through funnel From bags. In addition to this ca feine, strychnine and oil of camphor were used to give artificial force, and the kidneys and body were frequently drained.
 Congestion of Kidneys Recurs.
 The recurrence of congestion of the kidneys was experienced at noon to- day, aud 1t was found necessary occa- sionally to administer heart stimulants. Last night the physicians hadtbeen en- couraged by an improvement in the action of the kidneys and a lessening of the Inflammation of the lungs. At daybreak however, the patient show cd unfavorable symptoms, and. Dr. Gros was hastily summoned to his beside. Mir. Gates lost fifty pounds since he became i'll.
 Bold and Successful Financier.
 The death of John Warne Gates in Paris today removes in his prime one of the beldest and most Successful hnanciers, and a picturesque figure in the field of sports. Since 1SS0 when he organized the Southern Wire com rany, MT. Gates had been a man with whom it was necessary to reckon in the particular industrial affairs to which he had given his attention. In recent years he found relaxation from Dusiness cares in becoming prom tnent patron of the American turf
 Started at Hardware Dealer
 MT. Gates began his business career es proprietor of a hardware store at Turner Junction, H.. near the farm where he was born in 1855. His par ents were Asela and Mary Gates. At St Charles, ILL, in 1874 he married I(eltord R. Baker, who with her son Charles G. Gates, survive. The fam fly had maintained a home in New n ork city for some years.
 Salesman and Manufacturer of Barbed
 Wire.
 From a hardware merchant, Mir. Gates became interested in barbed wire, first as a salesman and later as 3 manufacturer at St. Louis. Follow organized the Braddock (Pa) Wire company, which in 1892 he combined with other wire concerns as the Con solidated Steel and Wire company Six Steel company. In 1897 he organized the American Steel and Wire com pany, which is now a subsidiary com- pany of the United States Steel cor poration.
 Primarily interested ins steel and later fp oil, the financier was also identified with many large operations of railway snd industrial stock He was known as a shrewd speculator on Wall street through many ventures. notably the coup by which he obtained control of the Louisville and Nashville railroad.
 Director of Several Concerns.
 He was a director of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. the Western Mary land railway, the Tennessee Coal. Iron end Railroad company. the American Salt company. the Republic Iron and Steel company of New Jersey and oth- CT concerns. The Wall street house of Charles c. Gates & Co, of which the son was the osentible head did a great business for some time preced- ing the banking troubles of 1907 In common with many other fnanciers, Mr Gates suffered some reverses, and eocn afterwards retired from the mar Ret and the firm was dissolved.
 Appeared at Steel Trust investigation.
 The last public appearance of MT. gates was in connection with the steel rust i11NPSt1Sdtlcn In WdSnlnGtOn In the spring, when he gave a graphic de scFiption of the formation of the nted States Steel corporation. Be- fore the corporation was organized he told the Stanley committee there had been "Sentlemen's agreements" be- tween thc various concerns, but An dy'' tmeaning Andrew Carnegiey would always kick them over
 Paid Carnegie $1,ooo,oC0 for an Option.
 He told also how H. C. Prick and w. H. Moore had paid Mir Carnegie S1,000.000 for an option on the Carnegie plant, and how, when their plan failed, Carnegie had kept the s1 000, ,000. It yas this testimony that led MT. Car nesie, who was in Europe. to say some sharp things about this man Yates'' -'Yates' being MT. Carnegies con- struction of the fnancier's name
 A Republican in Politics.
 In politics Mir Gates was a republi can, and was colonel on the staff of G;ove-ntr John R. Tanne~ of Illinois, fin 1s97-1900 He was man of great energy, shrewd and resourceful, a hard fighter and a good loser. and one whose willingness to take ciiance'' on any reasonable proposition gave him wide popularity in the realms Qf finance and sports. In middle life lie was many times millionaire, and At the time of his death was fast recoup- ing the losses of few years ago.