The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-11
Bankers Listened Breath
lessly For Word Of
His Condition
INVESTED FORTUNE
IN FOREIGN LANDS
Rich Before War, Financial Lord
Couldn't Count His Wealth
When He Died
By FERDINAND JAIN
LEASED Wire to Age-Herald)

colossus of German industry, is dead.
The dynamic, half-fabulous man Of
mystery, whose enormous wealth and
gigantic interlocking industrial organi-
cation reached octopus-like tentacles
into the every phase of the German
economic machine, died Thursday in
Berlin, exhausted after a series of OPP
erations and weakened by fever.
SHINES had undergone an operation
for gallstones, appeared improved, and
then suffered relapse. He was OPP
Grated on a second time. but compli-
cations developed. His family rushed
to Berlin, while the best specialists in
Germany labored to save his life.
SHINES family was at his bedside
when he died. Earlier in the day
members of the family had quoted him
as being confident that he would sur
vive. He believed that his iron will
would prevail, even against death.
Il do not even dream of dying" he
said.
During the day the industrialist was
frequently unconscious. Attendants at
the private hospital where he died say
that he was unconscious at the moment
of death, although friends of the family
assert that he retained possession of
all his faculties and attempted to
brighten the gloom of those about him
with cheerful talk.
AS he neared the end he asked:
"Are the hundred men at the Hotel
Esplanade still being fed all right?
The reference was to a group of needy
officers and students who have been
given free meals by SHINES during the
winter
Hear Dawes Report
Later he asked to see the members
of his family. He talked over business
affairs with them briefly, and, accord
ing to friends, mentioned the Micurn
contracts and the Dawes report, a
copy of which had been given him.
Friends say that his last words con-
cerned 1.-The economic difficulties of the
country
DIR. Edmund SHINES, who is only
20 years old, will take over the huge
SHINES interests, assisted by Hugo
SHINES, Jr. The body of the magnate
will be cremated and the ashes sent
to his home city of Mulheim.
Hanging on the words of every bulle-
tin board awaited the death of their in
dustrial giant. None could foresee the
effect of the passing of his keystone
figure on the economic structure of
German industry. 1t is reported that
while brokers nervously awaited news,
many of them offered large sums for
advance word of his end, planning
speculations that might bring them new
riches.
The death of Hugo SHINES GENES at
time when it will undoubtedly have
an effect on the political situation in
Germany, and may conceivably influ-
ence the German reaction to the ex-
perts' report Shines industrial en-
terprises were SO vast that they car
ried great influence in the political
field.
Was Dramatic Figure
The dead industrial was one of the
most dramatic and significant figures
that emerged out of the chaos of post
war Europe. In a sense, he symbolized
the reconstruction period in Germany.
SHINES, who was "a years old. wal
born of prosperous folk at Muelheim.
After a technical education, he joined
the firm of his grandfather, Matthias
in business for himself, starting his
600. SHINES was then % years old.
grew rapidly, and he began to be in.
also engaged in shipping. Money roll
ed into his Golfers from all sides.
Contrary to general belief, SHINES
was not a war millionaire. He had
already acquired a fortune of forty
million gold marks in 1914. His word
already carried tremendous weight in
Germany.
With the coming of the World war,
SHINES became the real center of Ger.
man industry. 1t is said that he sup.
piled Germany with most of her war
materials. He made huge profits, and
invested his gains in neutral countries.
Neither the revolution, the fall of the
mark, or the DISCRIMINATION of German
industry, harmed him. He profited by
every turn of fate. When the mark
crashed, he made money by speculation.
He bought up new businesses when in
dustry tottered.
Won Reichstag Seat
In the peace period, SHINES began
to acquire newspapers throughout Ger
many, entered into ship building, and
won seat in the Reichstag. His
fortune was then so enormous that none
could estimate it. 1t has been said
that SHINES himself did not know
and could not knOw-how much he was
worth.
SHINES held great political power,
but he was seldom on the political
stage. He represented Germany at the
Spa conference, and freely criticized
the allies there. In 1922, he concluded
an agreement with Marquis de Luber-
sac for the reconstruction of the de-
vastated areas in France. He is said
to have contributed largely to the funds
of the peoples party in Germany. Be
yond this, his political ACTIVITIES have
all been carried on quietly.
SHINES was not striking figure
physically. He seemed quiet unob- -
strusive man, marked only by coal
black pair, a pointed black beard, sal
low skin and narrow piercing eyes. OF
late years he made his home in Berlin,
in O siiifn at the naUniffoaDk Heal