DRAMATIC RACE FAILS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17908, 12 October 1932, Page 11

DRAMATIC RACE FAILS

TRAGEDY OF THE OCEAN MULTIMILLIONAIRE’S DEATH A wireless message from the liner Majestic in mid-Atlantic on September 2 revealed the news of an ocean tragedy and the failure of a dramatic race for home. Mr. J. Wood Johnson, multimillionaire and America’s “baby-powder king,” had died at sea. His death was hastened by his own fear that he might die far from his native land.

■ Mr. Johnson, who was '77, went to Scotland recently with-his wife, formerly Miss Norah - Moßain, a ■ Scottish nurse. He became ill at Strathpeffer and decided, against the advice Of doctors and the persuasion of his friends, that he would return immediately to America and his home, in New Jersey. He was told that he would probably live if lie waited quietly in Scotland. “I must and will go hack,” Dir. Johnson said, and then demanded to know which was the first ship sailing. It was found that he could catch the Majestic, which was leaving Southampton within a day. “I shall go by that ship,” said Mr. Johnson.

A special train was ordered —an engine, sleeping car and brake van —and in that Mr. Johnson, his wife, his valet and a StVath'pcffer doctor travelled the 600 miles td Southampton, stopping only on the way for ii Change of ejlghie arid train staff'." The'special train arrived at the quay a few minutes before the liner was due to sail and Dliv Johnson was carried aboard 1 oil -a stretcher.

“Now that we are going back home,” lie- said, as 1 flffi wits taken to his suite, “1 ain happy.” Twelve hours later he was dead.

- The drama of his end was described by Mr. Lancaster, tlie purser of- the Majestic, speaking by wireless telephone to'the Daily Express office in London. ; “Mrs. Johnson ■ Was at the bedside,” lie said, “with Miss Johnson, the millionfiire’s daughter, who had hurried to catch the ship at Southampton at the same time as her father. “It was a great shock, for Mr. Johnson was a very old friend of mine; lie had crossed the ocean many times. “Only three people aboard, outside the millionaire's suite, knew of the death—the captain, Dr. Wood, the surgeon and myself. It has been kept secret from the other passengers because deaths at. sea depress passengers. It was revealed last year that Mr. Johnson, at the age of 73, had married his 32-yeav-old Scottish nurse, Miss Mcßain.

For more than 2* years the marriage romance was kept secret, even from the most intimate friends, who never suspected • that the quiet nurse who attended so assiduously the aged liiillionaire was his wife.