The New York herald., 1922-06-25
Sickness Result of Trip
Home From Office in
Downpour of Rain.
ESTATE is s15O,ooO,O 900
Public Knew Little of Director
Of Gigantic Oil, Railroad and
Other Enterprises.

Pneumonia ended the life of one Of
the richest men in the world-William
Rockefeller. younger brother by two
years Of John D. Rockefeller-earlJ
ycste morning.
ed the age of 81, and still
in less of business, he died
at hio antry place, lockwood Hall.
North Tarrytown, at 6:45 o'clock. His
end came as the result of weeks
illness, during which medical science
struggled futilely against congestion
of the lungs in patient of such ad-
vanced age.
A week ago yesterday, while travel
ing through a rainstorm from his Of
fec in the Standard Oil Building at
rs Broadway to his estate in the hills
OF the Hudson, Mr. Rockefeller caught
cold, and the chill resulted in an
attack Of pneumonia. against which
he had not the reserve strength to
rally. Until Friday morning it was
the opinion of DR.. Hermann I. Biggs
and of his personal physician, DR.. w.
- AsOpNi eSOhs thAI iiO was llOlIlIi& IlS
own, but he grew weaker instead, and
as night approached on Friday and
wore on to the daylight hour 1t was
obvious that the aged sufferer was
dying. his strength too feeble to rally
under the restoratives of science.
ChIidren at Bedside.
When Mr.. Rockefeller died there were
present at his bedside his two sons and
his two daughters. Percy A. and william
G. Rockefeller. Mrs. Marcellus Hartley
Dodge and Miss Ethel Rockefeller, all of
whom had been with their father through
the night. Neither John %. Rockefeller
senior or junior was present. both being
at their home In Pocantico Hills. They
were informed Immediately of William
Rockefeller's passing and at once went
TO lockwood Hall.
The last time the head of the Rookie
feller connection saw his brother WILL
lam alive was on Monday last, when they
had long and affecting talk. which
was, as William Rockefeller seemed to
realize, in the nature of farewell. Un-
lii he asked that John d. Rockefeller be
sent for last Monday. William Rookie
feller's condition had not aroused grave
anxiety in the minds of his physicians.
Except for the handicap Of age, his con-
dition seemed to be favorable. They
were more apprehensive on Tuesday.
when lung congestion began to develop,
but 1t can be said that death was not
actually feared until Friday John d.
Rockefeller. indeed. had arranged for a
Hinnar RI IN .tub III
was not Cancelled until Friday afternoon.
John d. Rockefeller, Jr., had been at
tending the commencement and his own
class reunion at Brown University in
Providence and did not return on call
of the family until Friday.
Brothers Talked Several Hours.
Great interest attached to the long
talk the two brothers had at their fare
well meeting last Friday. 1t lasted for
several hours and much of 1t was pri-
vate, other members Of the family,
William Rockefellers sons and daugh-
ters. entering the sickroom only occa-
sionally. AS to the nature of this death
bed conference and as regards any other
major affairs of William Rockefeller, all
statement and commeat was withheld by
the family themselves and by persons
representing them.
Naturally. the size OF the fortune
which the younger of the oil pioneers
amassed in sixty years of Standard OIL
activities and in diverse enterprises of
railroads, banks and public service cor
porations became n topic Of interesting
speculation. Since william Rockefeller
had always and consistently been a
reticent, not to say secretive, man
about his own affairs. detesting public
ity, an estimate Of his fortune, even an
approximation. Is not possible; but II II
believed by financiers that he leaves a
fortune of approximately S15o.0Oo.000.
Men who profess to have a general
knowledge of the late Mr. Rockefeller's
affairs say that his wealth was not less
than $l00.000.000 and probably was not
greater than 500 900 900. so that $780,
100000 may be taken as a reasonable
guess
Interests Were Diversified.
It is stated by those in position to
know that in recent years William
Rockefeller decreased his interests In
the related enterprises Of Standard Oil.
a process of detachment which began
about 1911. when his presidency OF that
corporation ended, and that the bulk of
his estate will be found to consist OF
the securities OF the National City
Bank, the Consolidated Gas Company.
the New York Edison Company, to-
gether with numerous subsidiary con-
Germs Of these corporations the Ana
conda Go. per Mining Company and tho
Chicago, Milwaukee and st. Paul and
New York. New Haven and Hartford
railroads. This Is not to infer. how
ever, that his interest In Standard OIL
was not large at the time of his death.
There is no suggestion forthcoming as
vet as to how William Rockefeller dis
posed by will of one of the worlds
great fortunes. nor Is there likely to
be until tn cdocument itself Is offered
for probate. Whether or not he be-
l--I. .-.l x.un N -