Wichita eagle., 1888-04-07
A SUDDEN SUMMONS.
Morphine Causes the Death OF G. W. Davis Yes
terday Afternoon 1t HIS Home on
North Market Street.

North Marker street.
Yesterday. afternoon death, very sad
and distressing, occurred at the corner, OF
Second and Market streets. q. ". Davis
well known and ssiilful carpenter and
an aged man, took five grains of morphine
and from the effects Of the drug died with.
out being able to speak word or show a
sign of consciousness to the loving ones
that lowered over him during the greater
part of the day in their vain, fruitless eff
forts to undo the melancholy work of his
own hands.
Mr.. Davis rose yesterday morning COM
planning that he was unwell He mas been
troubled for some time with rheumatism
and often spoke.of the intense pain which
he was suffering. About S o'clock be sent
to Cooper's drug store on North Main for
ten cents worth OF morphine. He mixed the
powder in water and commenced
taking it. Receiving no benefit from the
drug, he repeated in the hopes, as he ex-
planned, that he would go to sleep.
By 10 O'Clock he had taken the whole OF
the amount purchased, five grains, and
when found by his family he was sleeping
soundly. He commenced to breathe very
hard and about O'Clock Mrs. Davis tried
in vain TO awaken him. She then called
her daughter to assist her, but their ef-
forts, TOO, proving of no avail, physicians
were sent for. Drs. Tiluen and HAYS
Immediately hurried TO the bedside.
An examination of the patient
that all efforts at resuscitation were
useless and they communicated their fears
20 the friends. The drug, they believed
had laid so long in the body that nothing
that they could do would counterfeit its
terrible effdcts.
Nevertheless number of gentlemen who
had been attsacted TO the house by the
cries of the women worked hard and dill
gently, rubbing him, bathing his body and
otherwise endeavoring to keep up an arti-
fetal respiration. By the heroic efforts of
these men the spark of life was kept up
for some time. At last he expired, never
once having regained consciousness after
going to sleep from the effects of the poi
sonous drug.
The family were during this sad scene
deeply affected and put forth every effort
in their pewer to bring bacl, to life the one
who so long fingered on the very edge of
the grave.
Mr.. Davis was by trade carpenter and
was considered very skillful workman.
He came to Wichita last spring from Ne
vada, Mo-, and he was tifty-seven years of
age. Besides a widow he leaves three
grown up daughters, who deeply mourn
his loss He was member Of the Seventh
day adyentists and was regular attendant
ant upon ther meeting at the church on
the West Side. For some time he has
been a sufferer from rheumatism. it is
stated, and for this reason he took the
fatal drug.
While there are some persons inclined to
think that it was taken with suicidal in
tent, yet the statements of his family, as
the more just and charitable view to take
OF the occurrence is that it was an acct
dent, the drug being taken by him while
he was unfamiliar with its nature and
thus did not know in what quantity it
could safely be administered.
1t was not known last night whether
inqrest viii or will not be held
over the remains.