The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1891-06-04
BIT BY HIS PET DEG.
Dr.. Villas Gives the Particulars Of the
Death Of James Smith
Ell PAso, Tex, May 18 1891.

! Ell PAsO, Tex, May IL 1871
c. W. Smith, Esq, Rocjne, Vas.
DEAR SIR wired you yesterday
morning regarding the death Of Jim and
now | will write you the details as know
them. Last December Jim had a young
dog about year old that he was raising,
the dog had been having distemper but
was about we'll Jim had him on hunt
ing trips several times. This day the dog
had been acting rather strange, SO jim
threw his hat and told the dog to bring
it, The dog did not do SO, Jim reached
for the dog when he grabbed him by the
hand, not biting him very much. jim
whipped the dog and made him bring the
hat this was about 5 O'Clock p. m: soon
after jim started for supper, taking the
dog with him; soon after reaching the
street the dog ran from him and has never
been seen or heard Of since. The next
morning Jim showed me where the dog
bit him. | washed and dressed the wound
to please jim and that was the last | ever
heard of it or thought Of it, For the past
six weeks Jim has been feeling badly.
complained of nothing in particular, but
said he felt bad. He did not sleep well
and could not eat much, etc. The state
shoot was held at San Antonio this year.
| jim and three others were delegates there.
He left here one week ago Saturday and
arrived there Sunday morning. He wrote
me Monday that he was feeling much
better and was eating like a horse. He,
shot Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
and felt very well. Wednesday night he
woke up and told Frank Powers, who
was sleeping with him, that he felt badly.
Thursday he did not feel very well and
did not go out to the shooting grounds,
but stayed around the hotel. Thursday
night he woke Powers up and said he
felt very badly and wished Doc Villas was
with him. He did not complain Of any
thing in particular, but said he felt badly
and kept wishing that | was there, and
finally told Frank that he wished he
would telegraph for ne, which he did at
a. IN. | did not get the message until
8 a. M, and as the train leaves at SIS,
coula not 60 that uay. wired them ask
ing what was the matter with jim, and
told them that if possible start for home
with him and | would meet them on the
way, which they did FRIDAY evening". l
| took the Saturday morning train and met
them about hundred miles east Of here
Friday jim told.the boys he was going to
dies he told them aboutIthe dog bite and
he knew that was what was the matter
with him. They tried to talk him out of
it, but he said no, he would not live to
reach Ell Paso One man came with him:
he vas feeling fairly well when they left
San Antonio at 4:30 p, N. Friday. and
showed no particular symptoms About
midnight he complained very much and
soon had spasm. He had several more
during the night, they telegraphed ahead
and had physicians meet him. and they
stayed with him until met them at -
o'clock Saturday. He knew me and talk
ed with me some time, told me that he
knew what was the, matter with him and
that he was going to die.
Well, he grew very much worse, and
when we reached here at Ais helwas very
bad. The Gun club met us at the train
and he was taken to his room, which is
back of my office. Nearly every physic-
| ian in the city came in and stayed with
him until he died. which was at 12:45
Saturday night. After arriving here he
recognized several Of the boys and called
them by name. HIS remains Were taken
charge Of by the Gun club and everything
was done that could be- He was buried
Sunday afternoon at 4. Jim was very
popular man here and you must not
think of him as dying among strangers,
nor would you think SO if you could have
seen the number that followed his re-
mains. We all loved Jim as brother,
and our household is in deep mourning
The Gun Club appointed committee
Of three to take charge of his affairs, and
| promise you that everything will be
done right. do not know yet what con
dition his business is in, but will let you
know just as soon as | learn.
Very truly yours,
w. w. Villas, M. d.