The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-12
Head of Street Railway
System Passes Away
Suddenly.
WON HIGH PLACE
IN CITY'S ESTEEM
Represented Gould Interests in
Virginia, Recognizing Lines
and Upbuilding Community.
Miss Helen Gould to At
tend Funeral Here
on Friday.

Stricken suddenly with heart fail
ure. resulting from recent auto
mobile accident. William Northrop.
president OF the Virginia Railway and
Power Company. and representative OF
the Gould interests in Virginia, died
Yesterday morning at le:+O O'Clock al
his home near Forest Hill. Although
under treatment for his Injuries. the
end was totally unexpected Mrs
Northrop was in Richmond on an err
rand. the trained nurse was giving
him his morning bath. and Assistant
secretary Williams was waiting at tho
house to secure his signature TO some
business papers, when, without warn
ing. the end came. DR. H. Snar.
Macl.ean who was summoned de-
clared that death was due to hear,
disease. resulting from the shock, and
general nervous condit ons following
his accident.
Nephew of jay Gould.
Mr.. Northrop was nephew of the
late Jay Gould. his mother having
been sister OF the railroad magnate
and he came to Richmond nine years
ago. when, his cousins, Frank jaw
Gould and Miss Helen Miller Could
secured controlling interest in the
local traction field. Since then he had
been the dominating factor in reor-
RANKING and extending the lines. In
auguratinE policy new to Richmond
OF taking the public into his conf
dence. of dealing openly and fairly
with all, he succeeded in brief space
in placing the properties under his
control on paying basis for the first
tine in their history. in rebuilding
and reorganizing them. and in com
p!etely reversing pubic sentiment
which. prior to his coming, had been
violent in Its antipathy to his com
rany and the interests which then
controlled it.
Married In Richmond.
Making Richmond his home. Mr.
Northrop took an actiye part in public
enterprises. becoming member of
Ahe Chamber OF Commerce. q director
OF the National Bank of Virginia. and
member of the Westmoreland Club.
In October. 1908. he married Miss Lila
Skipwith Blair, daughter Of Lewis III.
Blair, Of this city. who survives him.
There are no children. The wedding
ceremony took place quietly in the
Blair home at 5ll East Grace Street.
On May %. while driving into Rich
mond from his home, near Forest Hill.
MT. NoTthrop was seriously injured, He
was alone In his motor car when the
engine stalled. Forgetting to take
OFF the clutch and SO release the gear.
he jumped out and cranked the car.
which bounded forward. He was
knocked to the ground and badly
bruised. but did not lose conscious
ness. The accident happened just at
the north end OF the Free Bridge.
Several Bones Broken.
Henry w. Anderson. vice-prcsldent
OF the company, and one OF Mr.. North
rop's closest friends. hurried him 10
the Virginia Hospital in his car and
there Doctors II. Stuart MacLean.
Stuart Mcclure and Francis w. Up
shmr made an N-ray examination Two
ribs were found TO be broken and a
bone disiocated in the hip. Though
suffering severely from shock, Mr..
Northrop insisted on being removed
to his home. where he had since been
carefully nursed by his wife. ONLY IN
the past few days have the physicians
insisted on having trained nurse in
attendance.
While efforts had been made to
make light of Mr.. Northrop's INJURIES.
his closest business associates knew
that he would not have been able
to resume active work this summer.
Even had there been a complete re-
covery a long vacation would have
been necessary.
But throughout his illness his ac.
tive mind kept in close touch with
business affairs. and as frequently as
the physicians would permit he was
in conference with tho officials of the
company. and from time to time he
had signed such papers as were pre-
sented to him. He was closely in
touch with plans for the new office
building, the new power house tho To-
building of certain lines. ,he financing
OF n pending bond issue and the CON
test now being made before the Coun-
Gil for competing light and power
franchise.
Mrs. Northrop in Richmond.
Assistant Secretary Williams. of tho
company. was at the house when tho
end came. While DIR. MacLean raced
10 the house in his motor car, Mr. Will
liams not: cd Vice President Anderson
and Genera Attorney \. B. Guigon.
who at once started messengers
through the shopping district to find
Mrs. Northrop. who was located and
returned to the house at once. News
of the death spread rapidly. and with
In few minutes the Offices of the
company at Seventh and Main Streets,
and the telephone IT the Northron
residence were besieged by anxious
inquiries. During the day messages
of sympathy were received from bust
ness associates in many sections OF
the country. and from a number of
directors of the company in New
York. who stated that they would come
10 Richmond to attend the funeral.
Mr.. Northrop was born in Pennsyi-
vania, and had he lived would have
been forty-three years OF age next
Saturday. He received his early edu-
cation In Philadelphia. and took his
degree at the University of New York,
whore he also took course In civil
engineering. shortly after graduation
he accented position win the phil
adelphia and Reading Railroad.
Led Mining Expedition.
In 1897, when the gold deposits of
ALASKA were discovered. he led "a large
CONTINUED on Eighth PageJ