Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-30
CAPT. ERNEST WILT.
A FORMER RESIDENT OF RICHMOND
DYING IN JACKSONVILLE.
lie Fell from Stairway and Sustained Pro-
bable Fatal Injuries-Enorts to
Find Ills Relatives.
JAcKsoNvILLE, FLA. November a.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. November o.
Especially -Captain Ernest WITT. formerly
of New Orleans but for some years
resident OF Richmond. Va. and for many
later years OF Jacksonville. lies at death's
door on cot In st: Luke's Hospital, In
this city. the result OF injuries received
from n fall last Monday night. He zen
from the stairway at Fowler's plumbing
shop and struck the ground upon his fore
head and nose. sustaining serious injuries
as It e. believed that the base or his
skull IS fractured. Captain Witt mad
started up the stairway. and was nearly
10 the top. when he missed his footing
and fell over the side through the slender
hand-raiing to the ground, about 10 feet
below. In falling he clutched at heavy
piece OF old machinery. which was on the
stairway, and 1t fell with him. colored
boy was the only one who saw the fall.
but a young man working in the shop
heard the noise and rushed out TO see the
cause Captain WITT was unconscious
when the men reached him and picked
him up.
LITTLE CHANCE OF RECOVERY.
Dr. r. l.. Irwin was sent for. and ar
rived in a few minutes. He found That
Captain Witt had struck on his foreheao
and nose, and that the injury was IL Sc
rious one. His left arm appeared 10 De
paralyZed but no bones were broken. Ut.
Irwin gave him all the attention possible
but said that he was afraid the Skull had
been fractured at the base, ana III thal
was so then there was little chance TOT
him to recover. Mr.. Jere ;. Smlth AZ ONE
made arrangements ana nau taP'dii
Wilt sent to st. I.ukes Hospital, where
he receives every attention. AT Ia'e
hour last night he was resting as cas-!
az could be expected. To-day DR.. Miller
the hospital surgeon, reports the case as
uuimproved and there IS little nope OIL
Captain Wits recovery. lie Is con-
scious only at intervals and these inter-
walls grow less frequent every day.
EVERY ATTENTION.
Two friends Of the sick man. Mr. Jere
c smith Jr. and Mr.. Goode II. Fleming
are doing everything possible to alleviate
his sufreringg. For three whole days they
have been trying 10 open communication
with Captain Wits friends ana rela-
tivcs I'm New Orleans and Richmond Va
but 50 far without success.
HIS RELATIVES.
I'm his rational moments. he has a sister
in New Orleans. who IS the wire OF
Charles Dartris. who Captain Witt SAYS
IL connected with the Merchants Ma
tional Bank, but a dispatch addressed 10
that bank brought the reply from the
telegraph office IN New Orleans mat the
message was undelivered. because there
was no such bank I'm that city. Mrs
Dartris was formerly Miss Adele WIZ.
4 cousin Of hers and the Captains was
at one time Governor OF louisiana Cap
tain Witt says that J. '. Guilioite, OF
New Orleans. United States Marshal or
that district, is his friend. but Guiilotte
docs not answer the kilograms sent 10y
Messrs Smith and Fleming. The Con
solidated Rice Company Of New Orleans
will vouch for the responsibility Of Mr.
Goode II. Fleming Captain Witt was
formerly United States Commissioner for
Jacksonville. and he was an army COM
rade and a warm personal friend OF the
late Paul Conrad. Of New Orleans.