The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-24
IT ENDED IN DEATH
WARD BRIGGS DIED LAST NIGHT IN
GREAT AGONY ANDPAIN.
1t Took Four Men to Hold Him Dur
ing the Last Hours-He Thought
Somebody was Going to Stran.
gle Him-Relatiyes We're
Present ct the End.
He died in agony.

/. He died in agony.
| Ward Briggs is dead.
The scene in room 3 of the Zimmerly
block was sad one last night. Christ
mas night, too, or practically that A
| fond mother stood over the form of dy-
| ing son; sister IN the tender years OF
! youth stood over the body Of dying
| brother as his soul took its flight to the
| unknown beyond. A father aud a son, in
tears, reclined over a bed filed with mis-
cry. tears dropping from their eyes at the
sight OF son and a brother who is sum-
moned before the Judgment seat of bis
Maker.
Ward Briggs, who cut his throat last
"Wednesday, died at $50 last night.
He died in room 49, just think of it
room Is. that unlucky number. that figure
around which clusters all the dread ideas
which stir the hearts of men who are of II
superstitious disposition. He died IN
agony. Four men were required 10 hold
him as he shook off the coil of mortality
and entered into the realm Of Immortality.
He died not from the effect of his wound.
The doctors say that was not fatal.
What did he die of then? He died from
the effects of liquor. This is the truth
and il Is hard to say it. He was delrious
at the last hour. He imagined
that two citizens were strangling him,
aud these two were his friends. Don't
write me up" he said. as he imagined a
reporter WAS by his bedside. Don't
strangle me" said he to another man who
would not do such thing for the world
and all it contained Il am going home,
to my mother" he would mutter occasion
ally. Don't let 'em tear me to pieces"
he would say, in alarm, and then he would
imagine that crawling, creeping. shiny
reptiles were scattered around him. And
this is how Ward Briggs died.
1t is pity that Ward died in this man.
ner.
His heart was true, large and generous.
He had friends and loved 'em. He adored
the mother that gave him birth. He re-
spected aud reversd the father that watch
ed over his tender youth. The world WAS
not too big for him, but he died, and died
in a manner that neither became his birth,
rearing or natural endowments. He died
with his reason dethroned and it is a pity.
When the news reached home that he
attempted to commit suicide everybody
was sorry. When the additional news
reached home that he would recover, every
body WAS glad. He was Protestant, but
Rev. John Bigley of Pratt, a Catholic
priest, wrote him letter expressing
his joy at his recovery and his hope that
he would get well. Ward listened to this
letter with tears in his eyes, he treasured
it and asked his friends to read it over and
over to him. 1t touched his better nature
and tears came to his eyes.
Friday night he grew delirous; he
imagined somebody was going to strangle
him. He saw strange sights and asked
his friends to protect HIM. He grew worse
yesterday morning and four men had TO
stay with him nearly all day to hold him
in his bed. At 0 o'clock he grew worse
and his agony till $50 was terrible. He
died at that hour in the presence of those
who loved him.
1t is a pity that man gifted as be was
with so many golden endowments should
die as he did. Everybody is sorry for his
sad end and everybody who knew him
sympathized with his family and friends.
Ths remains will be taken to Pratt this
mo rning for burial.