Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-05-25
Eighteen Years of SuMerIng-A
Strange History.

AMr. w. A. Worth. Of Troy, New York,
| died recsntly. Twenty years ago Mr..
Worth was young and promising mer-
chant. His personal appearance was con-
manding. and he vas regarded a. one Of
| the finest specimens of mauly beauty TO be
| found in the city. 10 his family relations
be va. most happily blessed. But neural
ec pains began to dart through his person,
and in short time he was taken down with
confirmed and incurabls rheumatism. For
some time hopes were entertained that the
disease would give way to medical treat.
msnt, but these were finally abandoned
when It was discovered that anchy losis Of
oil the joints in the body was rapidly t.
king place. The end Was soon ssashsd.-
Every bone became essifisd and contracted.
He was unable to move joint or muscle Of
the body. Even bis jaws became sst, and
| or years he sucked his nourshmsnt
through HE teeth. His feet became en-.
largsd 20 an enormous size, and great ulcers
formed upon them.
In this condition he lived for years. suf-
fsring 1t times sscsuclating torture. though
some times he WAS happily free from pain.
During sixteen years Of his invalidisn, Mr..
Worth was attended solely by his wife
now. we are assured, an angel In heaven, AZ
she certainly was on earth. That excel
lent woman nurssd and tended him with
accomplishing love and heroic iortituds
never murmuring At her lot, but chcsrfully
prayerfully, performing her mission Of love
aud duty. We doubt II there il on record
in the pages Of history or fiction, anoshe,
instance Of more complete wifsly devotion
Of stronger conjugal fidelity and love- A
lttls more than year ago Mrs. Worth
died. from diseass induced by her long and
persistent care Of he's husband.
To odd TO Mr.. Worth's misfortunss, about
six years ago his eyes were attacked by dis
case, and gradually he lost his sight. Iii,
strong mental faculties, which had ell
, through his long years Of illness remained
! unimpalrcd, absolutely grew stronger. Hi
sense Of hearing was wonderfully ACUTE
lie recognized the steps OF visitors with On
tire cxsctness, and could distinguish be
tween half a dozen persons entering tn,
, room. lie also played chess, and his mem
orr was so perfect that IN this game hc wal
able to vanquish almost any opponent. Ths
newspapers were road TO him daily, and b,
kept thoroughly posted upon the current
news and literature Of the times. Though
he had not walked tho streets of Troy fol
years, he knew almost every change tina,
had taken place in the buildings that lin,
them. HE mental characteristics were al
most a. remarkable a. was his physica
misfortune and terrible deformity.
Some months previous to tho death OIL
Ars. Worth, who only rsinquished her care
whom disease was fastened upon her, Mr..
Worth was removed to the Troy Hospital
he appeared to be very tenacious Of life
clinging to II with even more desire than
most strong and robust men manifest. A
few months since he was again removed "a
the Marshall Inilrmarv, whore he died.
Every organ in his body, one after another
had been attacked, and We may cay destroy.
ed, until only tho heart, the citidel of life
itself, remained unimpaired. This, too, a,
last succumbcd, and the poor man, who
counted his suiferings in duration by years,
and the intensity beyond the power of Ian
guage to desceibe, was released from the
thraldom Of the body.