The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-15
SUDDEN DEATH AT DOLD'S
Aged COIored Han Dies From Heart
Failure.

Failure.
Yesterday afternoon about 8 o'clock
! Captain Henry Ross, an old employee Of
| the Dold Packing company, was found
dead on the second floor of the main
building. The old man had been busy all
/ day about his light duties and was at
| the time engaged, as always at that hour,
! sweeping and brushing down the stairs
leading from the main docks up to the
fifth floor in the killing division. He had
not been complaining at all during the
day. and in fact seemed very bright al
the time. He may have felt some sort Of
a presentiment, however, that the sudden
bad feeling was going to be fatal, as he
deliberately lay down just at the inter
section of the two flights of stairs and
near the main elevator off the coopera ge
and box factory, carefully placed his
broom and shovel across his knees, and,
folding his hands over his breast, breath
ed out quietly and easily his life.
He was found not quite dead by Charles
Miller, one of the workmen, who was
passing, and he was then breathing
slightly, but in only a moment gave a.
last faint gasp and was dead Mr.. Miller
at once notified the superintendent and
the office and Mr.. Fred Dold, manager.
Superintendent Chas. D. Darrigrand and
Chief Clerk J. D. Harrison were promptly
on the spot to do all that could be done,
but it was too late, and the only thing
left was to summon the coroner and the
undertaken.
Both soon appeared and the body was
removed to the undertaking rooms of D.
T. Dunbar.
Captain Ross was an old colored man.
just how old he. himself. often said he
did not know, but probably between s.
and 70 years, and had quite history,
novel and interesting. He was an old. ia
miliar landmark, not only about the
Wichita house, but with the company
elsewhere, as he had been in the bold
employ about nineteen years and had lost
hardly a day. He Il was who scaled the
very first hog ever killed in the west by
the Dold company, commencing with the
opening Of the house at Kansas City. and
was transferred here on the opening OF
this plant, and here also he scaled the
very first hog that ever went through
the cauldrou and scrapers. Though old
and past the usual period Of service, he
was still active and willing, and though
not expected to do any heavy work. he
would always insist on doing all he could
as he had no idea OF loafng or Sinking
He was humored in this by the manage
ment who kept him on the payroll and al
lowed him II sweep the docks. clean rub
bish away and clean the Offices and
stairs and he had his OWE time 70 do It.
The Dold management never forgot the
fa3thfulness and integrity OF an old en-
ploye. white or colored, and in his old age
Captain Ross was always looked after
kindly and well Just for the good he had
done He was a former slave and was
born Of slave parents and leaves A wife
only. They lived IN the north end close -
the packing house. and ne was ever
prompt and faithful 10 his duties and re-
gardsd the Dold company as his bene-
factor and guardian. which for years
they have been He was deeply religious.
courteous and polite, and he enjoyed more
than ANYTHING else the pleasant task o.
escordnz groups % visitors through the
biE plant. every inch o. which he was
perfectly familiar with. No action had
been taken regarding Tire co-oner-s sn-
quest. but y WIS uude-stoctp last night
that none would be held as * vas plain
II was old age and probably heart failure.