The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-28
ACCIDENT
WAS FATAL
Calvin A. Black Falls Over a
BaniSter
IN MANHATTAN HOTEL
Head Crushed Against the
Floor.
H S HOME AT CHICAGO
Friends Notified of Mr.. Blacks
Death,
H 5 HOME AT CHICAGO

Calvin A Black. Of Chicago. died at
the wichita hospital at > o'clock yestsr-
day afternoon. from concussion OF the
brain.
Mr.. Black arrived at the Manhattan
hotel Sunday morning with his sample
cases and was assigned 10 room No I.
one Of the choice rooms Of the house He
vas in the hotel Frequently during the
dav. but was ont late at night and It was
nearly midnight when he returned.
zlr Black. upon entering the once, i'm
mediatsy proceeded TO his room. The
stairs seading 70 the second floor Of the
Manhattan hotel rUn from east % west
ana are not protected by walls. but BIZ
two banisters about forty inches high
When AIr Black had gone about two
thirds OF the way UP. he turned around
facing the Office on the north and asked
what the number Of his room vas.
Presently he fell over the south bannister
20 the foor, a distance OF probably twelve
feet. striking on his head. He cid not
utter Z word
Night Clerk Packer a new man. was
naturally greatly shocked. but notEfth-
standing the excitement ran to a tele-
phone and called for Or. Thomas and
DR. Oldham. lie also called for the Tor
tiers and conveyed Mr.. Black 70 his ROOM
When DR.. Thomas arril ed, he pre-
scribed for the bleeding and unconscious
patient. but with very little hope of saw
ing his life. Or. Oldham also had little
hope.
In the morning HIr Black vas taken
70 the Wichita hospital and after that
little is known OF what occurred except
that he died about 5 o'clock
Mr. Black was about IS years Il age
ara represented the Fitzhugh Trunk and
Vslise house. AZ Chicago. This was his
first Trip to Wichita He has beother
living at Kansas City. who viii be here
this morning His other relatives 1--we at
Summerville. a suburb OF Boston. Mss.
Mr.. Packer. the night clerk at the Man
haitian, said last night: Mr.. Black upon
coming into the hotel proceeded upstairs.
When nearly AZ the TOP. he asked the
number IF his room, and Just as 1 told
him ne fell backward over the barister
and struck the door before had time TO
realize what had happened. I have no
idea how he fell over except that he be-
came overbalance6 OF thought h was
leaning against the ceiling where the
stairway went through. It was a great
shock TO me and today I had high fever
over IT, 7 called for medical aid at cnce.
but tie doctors could not give much en-
couragement as 70 his recovery. He was
given The best attendance until morning.
when he vas sent to the Wichita hos
pital
Mr.. Blacks friends IN Massachusetts,
arc evidently vel 70 do His sister, Mrs.
Dawson. was given a1vices two or three
times during the day and asked Dr.
Thomas inform her &c his case was ser
ious as she intended 70 leave for 'Nich-
ita AZ once in that event.
The Manhattan people regret the &C
cident very much. but there was no POS
sible way OF preventing IL. They did
everything possible II securing doctors
and n caring for the wounded man.
For some reason or other the Wichita
hospital folks tried 70 suppress infCrma-
ton o. the death Of Mr. Back. ard the
matter VIII probably be taken TO the hos
uital committee Of tne city council for
Investigation Il was very important. and
8Ir. Black being a stranger f. Wichita.
u have his death announced. Why Al
effort should be made 10 conceal It from
the newspapers IS Unaccountabie and nay
lead % endorsements as the hospital,
being aided By the CITY ard starr with
money, becomes a public Institution. ITS
eevrts. incl5ding all legitimate inftrrna-
ton. III reasonable times, should not be
concealed from the people. Death IS 2
serious thing-especiaIly death from al
ing concerning It should be concealed It
IS very unfortunate that the conduct 81
the mans cement q the hospital should
provoke complaint and IL is hoped that a
proper explanation VIII be made.