The Washington times., 1912-02-01
|OyERWORK IS FATAL
/ TO EDWIN HAWLEY,
| RAILWAY MAGNATE
6uccumbs Before Dream of
Transcontinental Line Is
Fulfilled.

NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-Edwin Hawley.
the railroad magnate, died today. He
had been indisposed for a long time
but was recently reported to be recover
lins.
Hawley was the victim of overwork
He was frequently warned by his ply
leicians that his strict attention to busi-
ness was telling on him and that his
constitution was being weakened 30
that he could not stand the strain Of
an illness. He always insisted that he
would take a long rest as soon as he
! had realized his dreams of trans
continental railroad. but he, like other
American railroad kings. died with the
plan still in contemplation.
The announcement OF his death had a
disturbing effect on all of the stocks
of the railroads in which he was known
to be interested. all of them showing
losses after the news of the Hawley
death reached the exchange. He died ut
o'clock this morning at his home in
East Sixtieth street.
Hawiey was taken with n severe at
taSk Of grip two weeks ago but was
he,,swed hens to be recoyerins; Early today.
i.eicn OF his heart. and before the doc
tois could DO anything to rnlieve MN
ne was dead. The direct cause Of death
Fear Of the effect that the announce
ment OF the death would have on the
stock market caused members of the
family and the close business associates
news until the middle of the morning.
| AS soon as Kawley died his associates
were notified and arranged to protect
all OF the Hawiey railroad stocks from
bear raid. After this had been at
tended to the bare announcement of
the death was made. All details were
refused at the Hawley offices, and at
the home 1t was simply said heart dis
! eaes had caused death.
Story of His Career.
Edwin Hawley. recognized for years
as powerful factor In American rail-
road affairs, was born In Chatham, N.
T., In 1850 When he was sixteen he
crowded his personal effects into an old
carpet bag and came to New York and
( got job as messenger for the Erie
railroad at "a week. He worked there
until he got chance to go to the
Ohio and Mississippi railroad at s.
Then he went to the eastefn offices of
the Rock Island as bill and lading clerk
at $l4. Soon afterward the California
fast freight line need a contracting
agent in New York and Hawley got
the place. This brought him into close
contact with Coils. P. Huntington. then
the big man in the Western railroad
field. Huntington liked Hawley be-
cause he could keep his mouth shut"
ana he soon became assistant traffic
manager of the Southern Pacific.
~ When r; H. aaTriman n,aa T., got control Of
ington's death and large through Haw-
1ey's efforts, he was afraid of Hawley
and, although he made him q member
Of the executive committee. he refrained
taking vy1o 1oyy fyrSn to
Defeated Hartman. 4A s
Later when Hawley tried to be made
director Of the Alton. Hartman
turned him down in favor Of James
Stillman. Hawley declared war and
severad relations with all of the Har-
riman roads. He bought up all theAl-
ton stock he could get and through an
alliance with the Rock Island man.
riman. This was the only big railroad
defeat Hartman ever sustained during
his career.
Hawley continued to develop until he
Louis, the Iowa Central. the Chesa-
peake and Ohio. the Chicago and Alton,
and the Toledo. st. Louis. and Western,
with a total mileage Of 4,S76. Closely
Hooking Valley, the Toledo and Ohio
+ Central, the Atlantic Coast Line, and
the Louisville and Nashville, and Haw.
] ley has been working for the last few
the ambition which e. H. Harriman's
death prevented that financied carrying
} cut.
/ Hawlcy and John w. Gates were great
friends. and Hawley participated in the
deal which got control of the Louis
| Vile and Nashville. in 1903, and in the
Daniel Sully cotton corner Of 1904.