The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-10
DR.. W. W. HARRISS is DEAD
AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT WILL SHOCK
OUR COMMUNITY.
He Died. Suddenly ut $50 O'Clock
Last Night Of Acute indigestion
which Brought on Heart Failure
The Obsequies Will Take Place To-

1t is our painful task this morning
10 record the sudden death OF that ven
cradle and greatly honored citizen OF
Wilmington, DR.. William White Har-
Kiss. We were extremely shocked last
night to learn of his death which oc-
CURED about $50 o'clock D. m. at the
residence OF his son-in-law and daugh-
ter. Captain and Mrs. W. l. Harlow,
ga Chestnut street. His death was
heard with a sense of very deep sor-
row by a few of his friends last night
but this morning this announcement
of his unexpected death will be a mes
sage of the most shocking and pain
full nature TO most of his friends and &C
q~uaintances-
DR.. Harriss' death was very sudden.
For several days he has been complain
ing of indigestion and it became so
acute that his heart became affected.
He ED UP bravely and was down
town as usual yesterday, having
called in The Messenger office
during the afternoon. He was a
man who never complained, but he
remarked that he had indigestion
and was feeling badly. He attend
ed to his duties at his office on
Princess street until about 4:30 p. M,
when he came down town to make some
purchases. About ) O'Clock he went up
Market street on his way home, accom-
panied by his grandson, Meares Har-
Tiss. At Third and Market streets they
parted, DR.. Harriss declining the prof
fer of his grandson to accompany him
home. He went up Third street by him
self and in a few minutes was at home
sitting in his daughters room. His
supper was sent in to him after which
he sat with the family. Mrs. Harlow
went out in the meantime to consult
DIR. w. Z. Storm about her fathers
condition and returned in Il few min
utes. He was complaining of a de-
pressed feeling in his chest. and while
Mrs. Harlow was giving him some med
icine. his condition became such that
he started to lie down on a bed in the
room. At the side of the bed he sank
TO his knees and then turned over on
the bed and expired In A few seconds
He died without a struggle and his end
was one of peace, his face relaxing into
a beautiful smile in death.
DR.. Harriss was a son of the late DR..
William 1. and Mary F. Harriss. of this
city. He was born in Wilmington,
January Is, 1924, n in little more than
a month would have reached the 18th
year of his age. Up to his death he
was the OLDEST Hldle ISSlue1l VI Ills
native city and was n of its most
honored citizens. He was a man Of
fine presence and bore himself with the
admirable dignity and ease of the old
school gentlemen of the south. He was
the pe%rsonification of urbanity and was
a chiValrous, courtly, courteous man,
whose genial, cordial greeting was a
characteristic that all will pleasantly
remember. He was the soul of honor
and a pattern of integrity and upright
ness in his life, I'M by nature was
high-minded and generous by impulse
Possessed Of a fine intellect and extern
sive education and being well read and
widely informed, hi vas ar exception
ally good conVersattonalist and most
entertaining companion for the old and
young.
In his boyhood he attended the cele-
rated Cotton school at Fayette-
vile where he was prepared for college.
He subsequently entered the state uni
VerSity and graduated in the A. B.
course of that institution in 1872. AT
the time of his death ne vas tire oldest
of the UNIVERSITY alumni, having sue
ceeded in that respect the lamented DR..
A. J.. DeRosset who died several Years
G After he graduated at Chapel
Hill. he returned to Wilmington and
rea medicine under the late DR.. John
D. Bellamy. Subsequently he gradu-
ated from the famous Jefferson medical
college, of Philadelphia and took a post
graduate course at Bellevue Medical
College, New York. After completing
his medical education, he returned to
Wilmington and practiced his profess
sion till 1858, when he became a men,
Der of the firm of Harriss & Howell,
commission merchants and ship brokers
n of h largest establishments in this
city at that time. That firm was COM
posed of DR.. Harriss and his brother,
the late Mr.. George Harriss, and Mr..
A. ]. Howell. still a most respected
citizen of this city. When the war for
southern independence broke out in
1861, DR.. HarrisS entered the Confed-
crate service and was appointed assis-
ant surgeon, serving in that capacity
till theswar ended. After the war he
remained in the firm of Harriss &
Howell until about 1874. and meanwhile
was president of the Chamber of Com
merce. His portrait, as one of the pres
idents of that body, now hangs in the
rooms of the Chamber. In 1874. he
went into the drug business at the pres
ent stand of Mr.. R.. r. Bellamy, at the
northwestern intersection of Front and
Market streets. Subsequently and up
to the time of his death ne engaged in
business as an insurance underwater,
and acting as a justice Of the peace.
He was president of the local BOARD Of
underwriters and also chairman of the
board of magistrates of New Hanover
county. For years he has been a Ma
son and the oldest member of the fra
ternity in Wilmington. having held his
membership in st. Johns Lodge. He
was also a member of Cornelius Har-
nett Council, Royal Arcanum, and Of
Clarendon Lodge. American Legion of
Honor, in both of which he carried a
death benefit. He was a member of
Cape Fear Camp. U. G. ", and for
e has been a devoted communicate
of st. James Episcopal church.
DIR. Harriss was married in 1S4S to
Miss Caroline NJ. Brown, daughter OF
the late Mr.. Thomas NJ. Brown, but
his beloved wife preceded him to the
grave several years ago. His last
brother. the lamented Mr.. George Har-
riss. died on the 9Th Of November, 1899
in this city. Surviving him are three
s~esters, Mrs. DR.. John D. Bellamy, Mrs.
A. J. Howell and Miss Mary Harriss,
all of this city. He leaves five children
Mr.. George N. Harriss, and Mrs. w
L. Harlow, Of Wilmington. Mr.. Thomas
B.. Harriss, Of Savannah, Ga; Mr.. Will
liam White Harriss, Jr.. Of GAINESVILLE.