Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-13
Westinghouse
 Dies Suddenly
HEART DISEASE CLAIMS AIR BRAKE INVENTOR.
A REMARKABLE CAREER
Invented Rotary Engine at Age of is --commodore Vanderbilt sceffed at His Air-Rrake Proposition.

New York, March 12.-George West 1nghouse, foremost figure in the world Of engineering, and inventor of the airbrake that bears his name. died late today at his residence in this city. Heart disease manifested itself about 10 months ago and the end came a Few hours after it became publicly known that MT. Westinghouse was se T1ously il He was in his 6Sth year Funeral services will take place at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church on Saturday and the burial will be in WoodIawn cemetery.
 inventor at Age of IS.
 The boy Westinghouse became an in- yentor at the age of 15, when he pro- duced rotary engine. Four years later he constructed a device for replacing dera1led steam cars. Then when 21 years old, he sought the financial back Ing Of the late Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt for his now famous air brake, perfected after three years of labor.
 Do you mean to tell me you can stop railroad train by wind?" de- manded the commodore.
 Well, yes; inasmuch as air Is wind, suppose you are right spoke the youth.
 T have no time to waste OH fools" said the commodore, thus abruptly terminating the interview
 Other Inventions. Westinghouse sought and found cap- ltal elsewhere, manufactured his in , Ventlon and made high speed possible on railroads, revolutionizing traffic systems and inaugurating Q notable 1 era of railway development. The man Westinghouse did not con me his genius to railroading. For | half a century he continued to make other contributions to electrical as well 1 as engineering advancement. His in- ventons and improvements had to do with railway signalling; the develop ment Of the alternating current sys- 1 tenn for electric lighting and power; 1 devices for safety and for economically 1 conveying natural gas over long dis ! tances and using it for industrial and domestic fuel; air springs for motor l vehicles of all kinds, and a geared tur- bine system for the propulsion of ships developed in collaboration with 1 the late Admiral George w. Melville 1 U. s. N, and John H. MacAIpine. l Henors Bestowed Upon Him. l In return for his many achievements the highest honors in the gift of the i technical societies and institutions of 1 Europe and America were bestowed i upon him, European sovereigns con- ferring distinguished orders As re- gently as last December he received from the principal engineering society of Germany the celebrated Grashof gold medal.
 MT. Westinghouse founded many manufacturing companies in this coun- try and abroad, including great plants at East Pittsburgh, WilmerdIng Swiss vale and Tranord City, Pa and others | in Hamilton, Canada; Manchester and ] London, England; Havre. France: Hanover, Germany; St. Petersburg, 1 Russia; Vienna and Vado, Italy. In these industries some 5o.000 persons are employed and the many companies have & capitalization aggregatinE $200, ,000, ,o00.
 Lost Control of His Enterprises Mir. Westinghouse and his various ventures suffered severely in the pani,. of 1907. In October of that year the Westinghouse Electric and Manufac- turing company went into Bankruptcy, from which 1t was released a year later, after the creditors had accepted 8 plan of reorganization. Following that episode, the control Of the West inghouse company and some of it's New York. Boston and Pittsburgh banking interests. Westinghouse com mon. which had paid 10 per cent. year ly from 1904 to 1907, suspended divi- dends altogether from the latter part of 1907 until 1912. when they were resumed on 8 2 per cent. basis; and last year per cent. was paid.
 Served in Civil War.
 George Westinghouse was born tr the village of Central Bridge, neal Schenectady, N. r, Oct. 6. 1S4S, and as a lad attended the public school ir Schenectady. He entered Union col iege but left in 1868 to join the 26th United States cavalry and served fir
 the Civil war. His love for engineer ing led to his transfer to the navy and before being fin service a year he was attached to the Potomac dotilla, acting as third assistant engineer.
 1 Tn August, 1887 he married Mar gleFite Erskine Walker, who survives him, together with their one child George, Jr.. who lives near Lenox
 Mass. The son married Miss Violet Brockfebank, daughter of Sir Thomas and Lady Brocklebank. of Irton Hall Cumberland England.