The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-17
DR. BENJAMIN F. sHEFTALL DEAD.
Died After short Illness From
Acute Indigestion.

Dr. Benjamin F. sheftall died yesterday
at 1870 O'Clock at his residence, No. 21C
Hall street, west. His death was sudden
and unexpected and the news was receiv-
ed with expressions Of surprise and re-
greet. It was a shock to his family
and relatives as well as to his friends.
Or. Sheftan had been i'll only a. short
while Wednesday morning he was seized
with an attack of acute Indigestion Dr.
w. F. May. who lives near by, was called
and remedies were applied, which relieved
his sufferings. He was apparently doing
very well until yesterday about 1890
O'Clock. when a sudden turn for the worse
was taken. Word was sent to his broth
er, Mr.. T. J. Sheftan, sheriff of the city
court, who secured the services Of Drs.
r. G. Num- A. b. Simmons and T. P.
Warning. The physicians responded
promptly Or. Simmons was the first to
arrive. He realized at once that the case
was hopeless.
Your brother is dying" he said to Mr..
r. J. SheftalL
It was almost impossible for Mr.. Shelf
tail TO realize the truth. He had
not dreamed that such thing
was among the possibilities. Dr. Simmons
view was confirmed a few minutes later
by Drs. Mum and Warning, and shortly
after by the death of the patient. All
that the physicians were able 70 do was
to administer opiates TO relieve the suffer
ings Of the dying man. DR.. SheftaIs
family and his brother Mr.. r. ]. Sheftall,
were present at his death.
The deceased was one of the best known
physicians in Savannah He had practiced
medicine here for many years, and there
were few people who did not know him.
He had been city physician for
nf hof
ham county four terms. His full name
was Benjamin Franklin Sheftall. He was
the eldest son of Mordecsi and Virginia
Sheftan, and was born in Savannah Oct.
o. 1913. His mother survives him at the ad-
vanced age of Sc
The deceased studied medicine with the
late Drs. Charlton, Bulloch and Haines
and afterward graduated at the Savannah
Medical College in 1873.
DR.. Sheftall commended himself to his
fellow citizens by his splendid work in
the yellow fever epidemic Of 1876. Later
he was among the first to volunteer and
did valiant service in the yell
low fever epidemics at Port Royal,
Memphis, Vicksburg. Jacksonville and
Brunswick. Several handsome medals, tes-
tifying appreciation of his devotion and
self-sacrifice, were presented him by the
cities, whose people he had served in the
time of their direst need.
The deceased was member or one or
the oldest, II not the Oldest, families in
Georgia, being the great grandson Of Ben
jamin Sheftan, who came to Savannah
with Oglethorpe. He was a member of the
Society of the Sons Of the Revolution, and
OF the Georgia Medical Society, and was
past chancellor of Calanthe Lodge
knights of Pythas He was also promi-
nent in the knights of the Golden Eagle
when that order was in a fiourishing con-
dition here.
The deceased leaves a wife and six chill
dren, three boys and three girls, the eldest
of whom IS only Is years of age. He is
also survived by his aged mother. Mrs
Virginia Sheftall his brother, Mr.. Thomas
j. Sheftal, and his two uncles, Col. War
ring Russell and Judge Philip NJ Russell
Unfortunately the deceased was not OF a
provident disposition. He died without in
surance and left no estate for the support
Of his family Although considered
good physician he was not a practical
man and never secured a lucrative prac-
tice. Though active in politics like the
rest Of his family the deceased avoided
bitterness as far as possible and made
few enemies.
The funeral will take place at o clock
tomorrow afternoon. The interment will
be in Laurel Grove.