The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-26
President of Southern Rail-
way Succumbs to Sud-
den Stroke
WAS APPARENTLY
IN GOOD HEALTH
Railroad Magnate Stricken at Break
fast and End Comes in Afternoon.
Deceased Was Prominent All
Over the South

Washington, November 25.-wilIiana
Wilson Finley, president of the south
ern railway and leading figure In
movements for the development of the
south, died here today ns m result Of
stroke of apopIexy, which he suffered
few hours before. He did not regain
consciousness after he was stricken.
Mr.. Finley's family. friends and asso-
eiates We're wholly unprepared for his
sudden death. Scarcely past the prime
of life, he was vigorous and energetic and
seemingly in the best of health until a
moment before he was felled by the
stroke He passed yesterday evening
quietly with his family. and retired ap-
parently in the best physical and mental
condition When he rose about Z o'clock
this morning he casually observed to Mrs.
FINLEY that he had feeling of slight
oppression in his head. She left the room
for a moment to obtain some mild rem
edy. When she returned he was leaning
over dresser with his head buried in
his hands She attempted to assist him
Dies at 80 O'Clock
Aid was summoned and, the family ply
stefan called. It was evident that Mr.
Finley was suffering from a stroke of
apoplexy, and every effort was made to
restore him to cQpseiousness. At 1850 this
afternoon he passed away, with Mrs. Fin
ley. three daughters and his son at tho
bedside
Until the end. not even Mr. Fineys
most intimate personal and business as
sociates knew that he had been stricken.
Many Of his personal friends in railroad
circles We're in the city attending rate
hearings before the interstate commerce.
| commission. His only son, W. W. Fin
| ley. Jr., connected with the traffic de-
paftment OF tire Pennsylvania railroad at
i Newark, N. j., was notified Of his father =
condition and arrived at the house about
/ 10 minutes before the death
| Mr.. Finley Is survived by Mrs. Finley,
Misses Lottie v. Lille D.. LeOnora and
Celestine Finley and his son. Miss Lott
tie was out of the city and could not
reach here before her fathers death
The funeral services will be held I'm ST.
Johns Episcopal church. this city, at II
a. m. next Friday. Burial will be in
Oak Hill cemetery.
Born in Mississippi
MIR. Finley was born on September >,
1858, in Pass Christian. on the gulf coast
of Mississippi. He was educated in the
private schools OF Pass Christian and
grew to early manhood in the atmosphere
of this picturesque section of the south.
At the age of 20 he entered the railroad
service as stenographer. and by 1853
he had filled almost every minor posi-
tion in the clerical department OF vari-
years Mr. Finley served several railroad
systems in important executive capacities.
lie became on October 10, 1898, third
vice president of the Southern railway.
Later he was second vice president of
the Great Northern railway, but on Sep
tember l5 1896, he returned to the South
ern railway as second vice president Ten
years later, in December. he was chosen
president of the Southern in succession
to Samuel Spencer, who was killed in n
rear-end collision on the morning of
Thanksgiving Day. six years ago.
Headed Many Roads
Mr. Finley was president not only OF
the Southern railway, but also of the
Southern Railway company in Mississippi.
the Mobile and Ohio Railroad company.
the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas
Pacific Railway company the Alabama
Great Southern Railroad company the
Georgia Southern and Florida Railway
company, the Virginia and Southwestern
Railway company, and the Northern Ala
bama Railway company. lie was also
director of the Chicago Indianapolis
and Louisville Railway company, the Old
Dominion Steamship company. the Equit-
able Life Assurance society and other
companies, and trustee of the John F.
Slater educational fund.
On March 3. 1910. the degree of LID. was
conferred upon Mr.. Finley by Tulane uni-
versity of Louisiana, and on June 3 1910.
the same degree was conferred upon him
by the state university of Kentucky. He
was vice president and chairman of the
executive committee of the American
Highway association, which is a clearing
house for the good roads movement in
the United States. He was one of the
founders of the organization and through
1t aided the road movement throughout
the south.
Loss to South
Atlanta, November 2b.-Hrhe death OF
President Finley is a great loss to
hi t{xfa stal ag TO h..