The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-11-29
END CAME SUDDENLY.
PRESIDENT FINLEY OF SOUTH
EItN RAILWAY DIED IN PRIME.
Stricken with ApOplexy Tuesday
Morning He Pass III Away Without
Hegaining COnsc iOusness at Mid.
day. He Was a Greet Railroad
Executive and a Leader in the De-
velOpment of the South.

Washington, Nov. 25.-William Will
son Finley. president of the Southern
railway and a leading figure in NOV
ments for the development of the
South, died here today as a result of
stroke of apoplexy which he suf-
fered few hours before. He did not
regain consciousness after he was
stricken.
Mr.. Finley's family, friends and as
sociates were wholly unprepared for
his sudden death. Scarcely past the
prime Of life, he was vigorous and
energetic and seemingly in the best
or health until a moment before he
was felled by the stroke. He passed
yesterday evening quietly with the
family and retired apparently in the
best physical and mental condition
When he arose about O'Clock this
morning, he casually observed to Mrs
Finley that he had a feeling of slight
oppression In his head. She left the
room for a moment to obtain some
mild remedy. When she returned
he was leaning over a dresser with
his head buried in his hands. She
attempted to assist him, but he fell
into her arms unconscious.
Aid was summoned and the family
physician was called. 1t was evident
that Mr.. Finley was suffering from a
stroke of apoplexy and every effort
was made to restore him to conscious
ness. At $50 this afternoon he pass
ed away with Mrs. Finley, three Of
his daughters and his son at the bed
side.
Until the end not even Mr.. Finley's
most intimate personal business asso~
ciates knew that he had been stricken.
Many Of his personal friends in rail-
road circles were in the city attend
Ing rate hearings before the inter.
state commerce cornmissioE His only
son, w. w. Finley. Jr., connected with
the traffic department of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad at Newark. N. j.. was
notified of his fathers condition and
arrived at the house about Is minutes
before the death.
Mr.. Finley is survived by Mrs. Fin
ley, Misses LOttie V. Finley, Lille D.
Finley, Leonora Finley and Celestine
Finley and his son. Miss Lottie Fin
ley was out of the city and could not
reach here before her fathers death.
The funeral services will be held
from the st. Johns Episcopal church,
this city, at II a. m, next Friday
Burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery.
Mr.. Finley was born on September
2, 1853, in Pass Christian, on the
gulf coast Of Mississippi. He was ed
ucated in the pricate 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
e. olChcSi oPiici dHQ ny 1000 ne IldQ
filed almost every minor position in
the clerical departments of various
railroads.
During the succeeding six years Mr..
Finley served several railroad systems
in important executive capacities. He
became, on October /, 1895, third vice
president Of the Southern railway.
Later he was second vice president of
the Great Northern railway. but on
September Is, 1896, he returned to
the Southern railway as second vice
president. Ten years later. in Decem-
ber. he was chosen president of the
Southern in succession to Samuel
Spencer. who was killed in rear-end
collision on the morning Of Thanks
giving, six years ago.