Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-15
Chairman of Steel Corpora
ton Board Passes Away at
Age of 80 Following Attack
of Myocarditis.
HAD RECENTLY ROUNDED
OUT rs YEARS OF SERVICE
Noted Financier Leaves Remark
able Record as Captain of
World Famed Organization
Which He Planned and Led
in Formative Period.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, August 15.--Elbert II.
Gary, for % years executive head of
the United States Steel Corporation,
died at his Fifth avenue home today.
He was so years old.
Death, which followed an illness of
month. and from which only two
weeks ago he was reported to be re-
covering. occurred at $40 am, but
was not officially announced until mid
forenoon.
1t was believed in Wall Street that
the intention had been to withhold
news of Mr.. Gary's death until after
the close of the stock market lest
there should be break in prices. But
when persistent rumors at last
brought official confirmation, there
was only a slight furry of selling.
Speculation ON Successor.
First definite announcement of Mr..
Gary's death gave only the time, the
place and the cause-chronic myocar-
.ditis-but it was said that a more de-
tailed statement would be issued later.
Interest was centered on the con-
tents of this statement because of
the possibility that it might indicate
who would succeed Mr.. Gary as chair
man of the board of directors of the
Steel Corporation.
Mr.. Gary's body will be taken Wed.
nesday to Chicago for burial near his
old home, at Wheaton, Ill.
Mr.. Gary was credited with originat-
ing the United States Steel Corpora
ton, which in many quarters has been
considered as the barometer of the
country's business prosperity.
1t was he who eliminated the r.
hour day in the steel industry on the
appeal of President Harding. He was
known as Gear Gary" by the steel
strikers. but was noted for his kindly
treatment Of subordinates and was
considered by many of his employees as
a conciliator who stood half way be-
tween capital and labor, desiring only
the greatest good for both.
Reported "On Mend"
On the 25th of July, Mr.. Gary, who
at that time had been i'll for about
week, was reported ION the mend"
and it was expected at that time that
he would return to his Office within a
few days.
One of Mr.. Gary's last public acts
was on the 10Th of June, when by
passing his hand over an electrically
sensitized mechanism, he set in op-
GRAFTON the gigantic electrified Home
stead steel plant near Pittsburgh.
To perform this operation he sat in
his office at II Broadway and the feat
involved building up a minute guam
tity Of energy released from his hand
into great enough electrical strength
to control the operation Of the steel
plant.
The home where Mr.. Gary died is
uptown on Fifth avenue from the
famous Gary mansion at $50 Fifth
avenue, said to be one of the finest
residences in New York, which is now
in process of demolition. The Gary
mansion contained marble staircase
valued at 81 900. Because the con-
tractor tearing down the mansion esti.
mated that it would cost the full value
OF the great staircase to remove it,
however. it was offered for sale for
81 to any one who would take it away.
Resignation Rumored
Ever since Mr.. Gary passed his
eightieth birthday anniversary rumors
of his impending resignation as chair.
man OF the Steel Corpora ton have been
recCrrent. Time after time rumors
which appeared 10 be based on authen-
tic information have been circulated,
only to be proven baseless.
The general belief that Mr. Gary
was considering resigning became
more pronounced after the last meet
ing of the Steel Corporations stock
holders. on April 10, when remarks
he made at that time were con-
sidered as valedictory.
On February 25 last Mr.. Gary cele-
brated his twenty-ffth anniversary
OF his incumbency as an executive
officer of the corporation.
The news of Mr. Gary's death was
telephoned to the offices of the
Steel Corporation by +. A. Sites. Mr.
Garys secretary, from the Gary
home.
A month ago. when Mr. Gary first
became i'll. it was understood that he
was suffering from ptomaine poison.
Ing. Two weeks ago. when it was be-
lieved he was rapidly regaining his
health he received in his sick room
executives. who had recently been
promoted. Shortly after this he suf-
fered a relapse and it was considered
possible that the ceremony of greet
ing his SubordinateS had proved too
great a strain. After the relapse no
one was permitted to visit him but
bis wife and attendants.
Death Report Confirmed.
Mr.. Garys home, at the northwest
corner of Fifth avenue and Ninety.
fourth street, presented a deserted APP
Dearance, except for one of his au.
tomobiles standing idly at the curb,
when reporters arriving for confir.
1nation Of the Wall Street rumor
broke it's morning calm.
Hesitancy "A the part Of employees
20 divulge official information was
finally overcome and the bare fac,
that Mr. Gary had died was finally
elected. They would neither deny
nor confirm however. rumOrs that il
had been intended 10 withhold the
news of Mr.. Gary's death until after
the close OF the stock market.
IRE house il which the financiei
died Is four story red brick structure
with windows trimmed in white mar
1le 1t is a peaceful appearing house
in striking contrast with the ostenta
zion of imposing limestone structures
ahat bear away TO north and south oi
s., On both the avenue and tht
asI l. El dEf