The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-14
DECATUR's DENIAL.
How Her Prominent citizens Insisted
on Misleading the People.
'nshylIIe Americans Decatur spccin

Nashville Americans Decatur Special
The death of A. d. Spenccrat his residence
on Bank street, in this city, Tuesday evening
at o'clock, created quite an excitement.
Which, but for the discretion of many pru-
dent people, would have resulted in a min
iaturc panic Many without rhyme or reason
were ready to say that he died Of yellow
ieVeri that the house ought To be burned
and that regular scourgc had set in.
Calmor persons took different view of the
matter, and AT once commenced 10 investigate
the character OF the sickness of deceased and
cause OF his death. The following are the
particulars, as well as an official statement
from the board of health:
A. ID. Spencer was fruit dealer and nbout
| lorty-two years of age. lie came 10 Decatur
from Florida in 1857. lie was a prudent
sober, quiet citizen, and physically ordinnri.
~ stout His wife states that ON two nrn
vious occasions he was afflicted with a SINH.
lar nilment to the one with which hc died
ana that the physician who then attended
INN told him that should he be again M.
tackled hc would not survive. Two wecLs
ago he was taken with bowel affection. but
never quit business until last Saturday He
was dlsinclined TO take medicine or call in n
physician, aud hence grew worse from the
hour he left his fruit stand until hc died.
However, Dr. X. e. Bowman, dental sur
geon, an old friend Of the deceased. was
called IN, but not professionally. and mp.
gestcd preparation for his kidneys AT
noon on the day he died DR. II +. Cross was
sent for, and later ia the day DR.. w. q. Gill
saw him. CDrs. Gross and Gill have treated
yellow fever pntieuts)
~ the time DIR. Cross saw him there was
n suppression of urine his temperature was
above 100, and lac was constantly emitting
blhrk NoiniL and for sometime before death |
was utterly prostrntcd aud unconscious.
THIS isa true statement Of his condition |
ana the symptoms developed. A. matter |
OF prccaution the body soon after death.
was taken to the murguc nj the ccmetcry
where. the following morning, IL was viewed |
by those who buried the yellow fever dcnd
here IN lhIs, and they gave IL as their opin-
ION that the deceased did not die Of Ycilnw
fever. Tuesday morning the board of fhcnltb
had meeting, and, after duly considering
the matter, issued the following notice:
OFFiCE oF BOARD oF IIEatru
Decatur, Ala. Sept ~ iSsS |
A meeting Of the board Of health washsId
this day at . o'clock q. m, 10 investigate The
cause Of the death Of 4. D. Spencer who
died last night at = o'clock After hearing
the reports Of the physicians In attcndnnc.
upon the case aud investigating the sur.
rounding circumstances, we arrived nt the
conclusion that the immediate cause Of
death was uraemic (bloOdl poison.
u. y. CEoss NJ D., President.
w J. loUNd, VI. u.
T.. J. CoNYNgroN, Secretary Pro Tenn.
II is proper 20 state that on the 18Th day
oi August q gentleman arrived here who
from jacksonville Fla. ON inycs.
LEGATION hc stated that hc was direct from
Atlanta, and bad not been at jacksonville In
lNly days This man was acquainted with
d. Spencer. and while here was with him
md stayed all night at his house. pcrhaps
slept with him. 4 few days ngp Spencer r..
'civcd alcltcr from this man datci at Kan.
M City. Mo-. saying that he was we'll and
ihd not been sick since hc left here.
A. previously stated, considerable excite.
ncnt existed soOn after Mr. Sprnecr's heath
Became known, but Il soon subsidized aud
ycrything Is now moving on quietly.
L. llENsLEY GEuHus