Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-04-01
COLONEL SHFPARD DEAD,
The Noted New York Ed or Dies After
Ilhalug E her,


Col. Elliott Fitch Shepard. editor of the
New YORK Mail and Express, died suddenly
at his home, 9 West Tifty-second street His
death followed the administration of ether by
DR.. Charles McBurney and the family ply
sician DR.. J. W. McLane, who were about to
make an examination to ascertain whether
the colonefs suspicion that he was suffering
from stone i'll the bladder was correct.
Colonel Shepard had been in good health,
but nearly q month ago he noticed symptoms
that led lin to believe that he was afflicted
with stone in the bladder. He let it go and
did not consult a physician until week ago,
when he went to DR.. McLane and told him of
his suspicious. The doctor confirmed them
and advised him to at least submit to an ex-
animation. and to undergo an operation
should it ce deemed necessary.
Up to the day of his death Colonel Shepard
had attended to his business in the usua,
way. He was at his office every day. No
one there knew of the contemplated opera
ton.
About 9 O'Clock, before the arrival of the
doctor, he complained of severe pains and
said he thought he would go to bed. But
first he went to the telephone, called up the
Office OF the Mail and Express and gave
number of instructions about the future cor
duct OF the newspaper in case anything should
happen to him. AS nobody in his Office knew
he was i'll these instructions caused consider
able wonder, but it was never the habit of
anyone i'll the office to question anything that
the colonel did, and not even any inquiries
were made as to what might be the matter.
After telephon.ng these instructions the
colonel laid down awhile. The distress he
suffered LEFT him, and when the physicians
and nurses came ill later he was IN good
spirits. He had induced his wife and daugh-
tiers, who were at nome, to go off to Scarboro
for the day. HIS son, Elliott F. Shepard, Jr.
was al home. About l O'Clock Colonel Shep-
ard said mat he was ready Tor the surgeons,
and they, with the nurses, began the work o.
putting him under ether He had inhaled
the drug but two or three times when the
physicians detected dangerous symptoms and
stopped the inhalation.
Colonel Shepard sank rapidly and for a
time it was feared that he could not be rallied.
Powerful restoratiyes were administered. At
the end of an hours wO < with oxygen he
was restored to partial CO. Seiousness and he
continued apparently to rally until about 4
O'CLOCK. Then, without warning, and for no
apparent reason, he began rapidly to sink.
The oxygen treatment was resumed, but it
was of no avail, at 20 o clock he died.
He was unconscious and his death was
peaceful. The cause Of the death given by
the physicians was oedima Of the lungs.
COLONEL sHEPARD's CAREER.
Elliott Fitz Shepard was born In james
town, 0iautauqua county, n. Y, July Is,
1888. He was educated at the University Of
the City OF New York admitted to the bar In
1858, and for many years practieed in New
York City. In 1861 and 1862 he was aide-de-
camp on the staff of Governor Edwin D.
Morgan was in command of the depot Of
volunteers at Elmira. n. Y. and aided in or
ganizing, equipping and forwarding to this
field nearly so, 900 troops.
He was instrumental in raising the Fifty
first lew York Regiment. which was named
for him. the Shepard Rifles. He was the
founder of the New York State Bar Associa-
ton in 1876. which has formed the model fol-
the organization of similar associations in
other statsS In March. 1888, he purchased
the New York Mail and Express.
Ever since Colonel Shepard married Miss
Vanderbilt and became Cyrus W. Fields sue
essor in the Mail and Express he had been a
lro ninent figure in the social. political and
business world, and his eccentricities made
him cynosure.
One OF these was to publish text from the
Bible at the head of his editorial column every
day.