Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-23
A Singular Fatality.
From the Chicdg0 Times.


very extraordinary and lamentable fatal
ity has chung to the family, within the last
few years, of William Mcneil, a we'll known
| citizen of Chicago. He was very heavy
contractor. and probably built more churches
in this city than any other two men engage
In the same business. One of his heaviest
contracts was that OF the stone work of the
| county building, during which period he be-
came famous, and was famlIarly known by
everybody as "Uncle Billy" He came here
from scotland, with large family, erd set =
tied for time in Efliugham, Ill.,, and before
the great fire removed to Chicago Both he
and his wife were Of the very best specimens,
physically, OF the Scotch stock. He WAS
broad, hirsute, massive, the very personiica-
| ton Of health, strength, vitality, and the
promise of longevity. and the same in the
in addition to themselves. consisted of SIX
daughters and four sons, and probably there
| never was household more healthfuI. stall
wart, vigorous, and promising. II Gave nine
children, ""Uncle Billy" SAID on one occasion,
some years ago, leach OF whom is able to
earn his own living"
Not long before the great fire his youngest
child was aillng and q physician was sent for,
He prescribed on overdose of medicine, and
the youngest and best loved of the family died
from the effects of the carelessness. Soon af-
ther the fire the Youngest boy began to de-
velop sym ptoms of decline, and was at once
sent South and then to the West, and finally
TO Minnesota for the benefit Of his health, but
was brought home without gaining anything
from tne brlpr. ''OuCle ndu n slight
stroke OF paralysis about this time, and one
day, when the ailng son complained that he
could not eat what was offered him. the old
gentleman, who was sitting by the side OF his
favorite boy, said, holding up a quarter Of a
dollar "Hll take this, laddie, ana 20 out and
see If l can md something that viii please
thee" These were his last utterances; he
fell from his chair unconscious as he concud-
cd his words, and IN an hour he was dead.
The invalid boy soon followed the father. A
strong, healthy sister. who had faithfully at
tended her brother. within a very brief time
was struck down With the same fatal disease.
consumption, and wac laid beside father and
brother in Rosehil. The eldest co., William,
well known and successful builder, and
nan Of perfect physique, so far "a appear
ances were concerned. q few months later
had hemorrhaRe of the lungs, and he, too,
went to Rosehill. Four or five months ago
John, the remgining youngest. auccumbed to
a pulmonary disease, and yesterday Joseph
the sole remaining son OF tha family, was
added to the group in the cemetery.
What Il very extraordinary about this accu-
mutation OF mortality Is the form taken by the
disease. There was not one OF those who died
Tram consumption that anterior to the attack
presented any external evidences of liability,
nor was there anything in father or mother 10
chow any prediepoeition TO the same pulmo-
nary weakness, nor anything OF the kind in
their ancestry 80 FAR as known. In this in =
stance the development seems to have been
spontaneous, or Indigenous: whether or not
the original case may have been commuui-
Gated by contact to the others has never been
de- ermined, nor even examined.
The calamity IL q tremendous one and alb
solutely without precedent, unless during the
prevalence ~ some deadly epidemic. OF the
original family Of twelve. than whom no fam :
lily on tho continent afforded evidence Of
greater health and lonEcvity, but I've remain.