The Dickinson press., 1902-02-08
Dies Suddenly

O~S
Mrs. Mary l., wife Of Engineer Thomas
Neil, died Tuesday night, February 4, at
o:7o p. M, Of acute heart failure. Death
came very suddenly and was a great
shock to the entire community.
Mrs. Neil was apparently as we'll as
usual until a few minutes before her
death. At $50 she accompanied her
mother-in-law, Mrs. Robert Neil, to the
opera house, where Co. K was advertised
to give their third anniversary dance in
commemoration of the Philippine out
break, where several of the. local militia
members were enlisted in their country's
service. The two ladies enjoyed seeing
the boys in uniform and had come out,
merely as spectators, especially to see
the drill exercise which was supposed to
commence at $3.50 but which was a little
late in starting. Mrs. Neil saw the most
of this exercise but complained of feel
ing badly and at o:o5 she left the hall in
company with father Robert Neil who
got her home as quickly as possible, the
distance being about four blocks. Mrs.
Neil was troubled for breath and said
very little on the way home. Just before
entering the house she remarked that
her limbs were failing her, and as she
entered the door she gasped, "Thank
God, home at last" Mr.. Neil tried to
give her a drink of water, but she said
she could not swallow and never uttered
another word. She was placed on the
bed where she expired within a few min
utes, without any apparent pain.
Mr.. Neil dispatched Herbie tor medi-
cal aid and Joe for his grandmother, Iiv-
ing in the same block. Herbie was so
stricken with fear and grief that he could
not give his name when he reached the
residence of DR.. Perkins. Mrs. Perkins
saw at a glance that the call was urgent
and the doctor being in another part of
the city attending to a call, she led the
boy across the street to the residence of
Mrs. DR.. Smith who was led by the son
to the bed of his dying mother who was
still alive. In the meantime a messenger
had reached DR.. Perkins and he reached
the death bed a few minutes later.
Deceased was AZ years of age and was
born in Minneapolis. In 1879 she came
to Bismarck and II years later she came
to Dickinson where she had since re-
sided. In September, 1890. she was mar
ried to Thomas Neil. Their first born,
Herbie, is II years of age, Joe 8, and
Nina 4. BY her first husband she had
one son, Ed. Ware, and one daughter,
Mrs. Simon Carroll.
MI. Neil had made a trip with his en-
CINE to Glendive and had it not been for
a 5-hours' delay at Sully on his return,
he would have been home early in the
evening, but as it was he did not arrive
until 1915, nearly 3 hours after the death
of his wife.
The parents of the deceased died some
years since and the only living sister,
Mrs. Nellie Haggerty, resides in Mime
apolis.
Mrs. Neil was best known by the
earlier settlers of Dickinson and was
much respected by all who knew her.
She was charter member OF the Degree
of Honor Of this city, and last year repre-
sented the order as delegate at the CRANE
lodge meeting.
Services were held from the Methods
church at 10 a. m. on Friday, Rev. S. M
Roadhouse officiating. The city fire de-
partment, Of which Mr.. Neil had been
member for many years, attended in
body. The pail bearers, uniformed, were
chosen from the members as follows: H
J. Gruschus, w. J. Zimmerman, d. S
L%ittlehales, J. A. Flynn, Archie Grantee
= and Frank Lucas.
Both the orders, Odd Fellows and DE
gree of Honor, sent beautiful floral re
membranes in addition to the indi
: vidual contributions.
Mr.. Neil and other sorrowing rel alive
. OF the deceased have the deepest sym
pathy Of the community in their attic
: ton.
s Palladium: Mayor Manning, OF Dick
80.