Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-04-24
MESS DEUEEL'S DEATH.
Fasting for FOriy-Seyen Days
with the Deliberate PupOse OF
Ending Her Life.

Iowa CITY, Iowa, April 12-Miss Hat
tie Deuel., whose remarkable fast has at
tracted widespread attention. died on
Sunday night. Her friends and relatives,
who mad for some time been momentarly
expecting her death were at her bedside.
In the morning her pul-e was impercepti-
bic and her respiration thirty five to the
the minute. She had not drank any water
during the last twenty. four hours, as it
seemed to make her sick. After her last
drink Of water she con planned of nausea.
Even in the morning she evinced consid
cradle strength and was able to .Dmuni-
cate with her friends by means of her fins
gers and stick. She even reached out and
and opened small drawer in bureau
which stood near her bed. She was asked
If she was not hungry and did not want
something to eat, and answered both
questions negatively. She had been in a
com etose condition all night, but in the
morning her meatal powers were clear and
unaffected, and she seemed to fully COM
prehend all that was going on about her.
Her last moments were very peaceful, and
surrounded by friends and relatives, who
had done SO much for her, she sank grad
ually into the sleep that knows no waking.
| When Miss DEUEL. died she had been
fasting for forty seven days. She was 81
years old and had lor g been member of
the family of her brother in-law. DR.. B. II.
Aylwortb. She had been an invalid for
many years, suffering ce -seless pain from
neuralgia and nervous diseases, which
| made life constant torture and driving
her at length to the stern resolve to end an
| existence which promised no alienation
| for her torments. Though her conduct had
long been peculiar her &C luai ntances new
er deemed her insane. Her will was strong,
as is proved by the fact that from IN ovem>
! Der, 1879 till within few days ago she
! had never uttered word, though no inn
pairment of her vocal organs existed.
During her period ofsllence she only COM
municsted with her friends by writing and
no re- soning or entreaty could induce her
to speak word. She ate no break fast on
the pa of February, and when member
of her family asked her why she had not
eaten she replied by writing on a slate: II
| have no hope of recovery or relief and am
determined to die" Ali her family, friends
and her pastor, Rev. Mr. Folsom, of the
Presbyterian Church, used all their pow
ers of persuasion in vain to induce the lady
to change her resolve. She was inhexible.
| proposition to use force in iLtroducing
| food into her stomach was, after full con-
sideration, abandoned, from the belief that
if that course should be taken it would
| only drive her into some other method OF
| self-des ru ton. A fter the first week she
asked her brother>in>l9w if drinking water
| NOulu prOlOBg nor lie. he replica Lndt II
she did not drink PROBABLY fever and delir
ium would set in and that taking water
would not sustain her life. After that time
| she drank from time to time each day q
little water, but except that nothing else
passed her lips. --4z--
ISIS DEUEL. was buried this afternoon
Immediately after death post morem ex.
animation was made by DR.. Cowperth
waite. dean of the homeopathic depart.
ment of the university. Not drop o.
blood was found in the body, which weigh.
ed fortyfve pounds. The stomach wa!
also entirely void of any substance. NJ
further particulars have yet been made
public.