The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-06-20
head or STREET
CAR LINES DEAD
When the End Came, Mr.. North
rop Was Being Bathed-Was
Forty-three Years Old, and
Had Been Identified With
Virginia Nine Years.

Wiliiaa NorthrOp, forty-three
years old, president OF the Vir-
gtnia Railway and Power Com
pany, aud acting head of the vast
Gould interests I'm Virginia, died
suddenly Tuesday mOrRing about
near Forest Hill. while being
bathed.
His death was as unexpected
as IL was sudden, no one but the
nurse being present when the
end came, his wife having COME to
RICHMOND to attend TO some
shopping.
Indeed, SO much did Mr.. Nor
throp seem improved this MORN
ing that he was thought to- be on
on the road to rapid recOyery
and his wife, therefore, had no
hesitancy In leaving his side.
MIR. Northrop was injured May
9th by being knocked down By
his own automobile, and had been
iii ever since.
IL IL thought that a sudden at
tack of heart failure, coming
while he was i'm q weakened con-
clifton, was the immediate cause
OF MS death. Besides being Sc
Verely injured I'm the accident, he
was badly shocked, and from the
shock he could not recover.
MIR. NorthrOp has been In this
city for over nine years. From
the first he has been actively
connected with the local street
car company, serving as one of
the receivers some time ago and
becoming president recently.
THE ACCIDENT RECALLED.
The accident, which indirectly
brought about Mr.. Northrop's
death, occurred at the north end
or the Free Bridge on the MORN
ing of May 27th.
Mr.. Northrop was driving to
town i'm his now seven-passenger
Pferce-Arrow touring car. He
was alone in the can, and as he
turned into Arch Street the en-
CINE stopped. Getting out to
crank the motor he neglected to
throw of the gear. The car start
ed with a Iunge, knocked MIR.
Northrop down and severely
bruised him, besides fracturinC
two of his ribs.
The injured man did not lose
consciousness, and did not appear
TO be dangerously hurt. He was
taken TO the Virginia Hospital
and in n few hours was sent to
his home i'm Chesterfield county.
His physicians, IL was an
nounced at the time, were not
inclined to view his injuries as
serious. 1t was thought that he
would be able to return to his
office I'm a few days.
PennsyIvanian BY Birth.
Mr.. Northrop was born in Penn
sylvania in 1869. He would have beer
'orty-three years old next aturday
He was educated in the schools O
Philadelphia and at the University
Of New York, where he took q cours,
IN civil engineering.
Shortly after graduating from tn,
New York University he became con
nected with the Pennsylvania anC
Reading Railway Company.
In 1897 he went to the Klondik,
gold fields, taking with him a larg,
party. He remained in Alaska fiv,
years prospecting and mining. H,
was unusually successful, and return
ed in 1909, and became interested fl
4 Western ranch, where he spent sew
eral years.
When his cousins. Frank and Heller
Gould, acquired control of the Rich
mond street railway system in Jan
lary, 1908, Mr.. Northrop came here az
their personal representative, asum
ing the position of secretary anC
treasurer of the Virginia Passenger
and Power Company.
Mr.. Northrop continued in this ca
pacity until July. 1904. when he wal
appointed one of the receivers by tn,
United States Circuit Court for tn,
company and its allied concerns. Tn,
other receiver was Henry T. Wick
ham.
At Head of Vast System.
Mr.. Northrop remained receiver
and actively managed the affairs O.
the Gould interests until July 1, 1909
when the company was reorganizeC
as the Virginia Railway and Powei
Company. Mr.. Northrop was elected
president Of the new corporation
which position he had since retained
The Virginia Railway and Power Com.
pany includes. besides the Richmond
street car, lighting and power sys
TENS. the Norfolk Railway and Ligh
Company and its allied company, tn,
fredericksburg Power Company tn,
fredericksburg Electrical Compan,
and the Petersburg Street Railwa,
Company.
He was a director of the Nationa
Bank of Virginia and of several othel
financial institutions of this city. II,
was member of the WestmorelanC
Club.
Married Miss Leila Blair.
In October, 1908. Mr.. NorthroI
Miss Leila Blair, the daugh
ter of Louis H. Blair. of this city. II,
was a man who was well known
throughout the State and was one o.
the most prominent figures in the
business and social life of Richmond
His death is a severe shock to tn,
entire community.
Immediately after the information
of Mr.. Northrop's death had gon,
abroad endeavors were made to 10
cate Mrs. Northrop. She was found OF
Broad Street engaged in shopping. TIL,
distressing news was broken to her b,
Captain A. b. Guigon, attorney fol
the Virginia Railway and Power Com
pany. She was completely overcom,
by the sad intelligence. She was takel
to her home in a cab.
Surviving Family.
Mr.. Northrop is survived by his wifi,
and three sisters-Miss Ida Northrop
Mrs. Walker and Mrs Snow. all O
New York city-and several brothers
among them II. S Northrop. Of Fred
ericksburg.
The funeral arrangements have no
yet been completed. and will not b,
until answers have been re
ceived to the kilograms sent to mem
berS of the NOrthror family in othe,