The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-09-25
TWO DEAD TEXAS MEN
Bodies OF Proctor and nelly Have
Been Shipped Home.
The INQUIRY HAS BEEN MADE
Into the Cause of Rciily's Death ana
Ii Is Decided 1t was Due
to q Weak Heart.
Especial Dispatch to The Post)

Jacksonville, Fla, September 24'-l DC
remains Of George Proctor, company H. ana
Clarence w. Reilly. company +, were To-
night escorted to the train with military
ceremony. The companies to which me
men belonged, and the First Texas regi-
mental band formed the procession Inc
bodies will be taken to the homes OF the
dead in Texas for burial.
The board appointed by General Lee to
conduct the post-mortem examination into
the cause OF the death Of ClarenGe W.
Reilly. company F, First Texas, who died
on the operating table yesterday uDder the
influence Of chloroform, held the txamin-
alton this morning. Present were Major
George r. Fowler chief surgeon of the
Third division; Major j p warbasse, sur
geon, Third division; Major j. E. Pilcner,
executive officer and chief surgeon of the
Seventh army corps; representatives OF the
First division hospital, who were In charge
when the man died; Captain William Cor
man, surgeon First Texas infantry, ana
Captain 5. L.. McAdoo of the dead man
company, The Post representative ana
Times Democrat reporter.
The body through some mistake, had
been embalmed, and this incident, the doc
tors explained might seriously interfere
with their finding. The heart was dlscov-
cred to be abnormaly weak, the right ven
tricle walls being very thin-three SIX
teenths, when they should have been three
fourths of an inch thick The LETT VEN
trlcle was too thin by half, said the doe
tors. Fatty DE- regeneration was noticeable IN
the right ventricle.
The man might have died on the drill
field" agreed the surgeons. ANY sudden
muscular exertion might have caused
death" remarked one of the physicians.
This report OF the board will completely
exonerate everybody connected with the
operation. This particular condition
would give no outward sign OF heart trouble
in life" they continued.
Since the examination has developed SO
clearly the cause of DEATH said DR.. Pill
cher the surgeon in charge, IL am pleased
that the reporters were resent. "
Captain McAdoo was seen. He said the
finding of the board was final. He had
agreed to stand by it. The man was dead,
and he had done everything hs could do
Reily's comrades do not accept the heart
failure theory. They say he was an athlete
ard excelled in feats of strength. He was
not overcome on the drill field throughout
the hard work at Miami and did not smoke
cigarettes, they contend.
The statement that the chloroform had
bern administered by a nom professional
man has not been denied. This may lead
to a reprimand for the operating surgeon
but otherwise the matter is at rest here.
Colonel Mabry today commended the ac-
tion Of Captain George Mccormick in back
ing up McAdoo in his prompt action of yes
terday Mccormick was in command Of
the regiment at the time.
Sergeant Clarence W. King, who COM
rnanded the squad sent to protect tho body
OF Reilly on yesterday today secured an
honorable discharge and leaves shortly for
his home in San Antonio.
Corporal W V. r. Watson, IT., leaves
tonight for Houston with an honorable dis
charge.
Lieutenant Milby Porter arrived today
ana reported for duty.