Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-11-08
The Death of Midshipman Branch


The Death of Midshipman Branch
As was stated in the Gazette, Mid
,bipman James r. Branch, of the second
class, died at Annapolis yesterday morn
ing, having received an injury to his
brain in fight with Midshpman Minor
Meriwe,her, jr., of the class below him.
The fight took place Sunday night and
was a prearranged affair. Meriwether
was also injured, his face being bruised
and his wrist sprained and be is now In
the hospital.
Midshipnan Branch was the son of
Col. James r. Branch, Of New York
city, an officer of the Hanover Bank and
secretary of the American Bankers AS
sociation. The family formerly resid-
ed in Richmond, Va, where they
have many relatives. He was The only
child of his parents, who were with him
when be died.
The fight, it is stated, arose from the
fact that Branch had reported Meriwether
for some minor ohense, Branch being on
duty and required to make the report. a
challenge to fight followed aud 1t was
arranged to take place on Sunday night
on the "wood pile" a collection piles
back of the carpenter shop, near the end
of MARYLAND avenue, the scene of many
such encounters. The fight was ar
ranged in a regular price-ring manner,
with referee. timers and seconds. 1t
lasted % rounds and Branch was dis
abled. Meriwether not being in much
better shape.
His comrades did not think that tine
injured youth was in very serious
condition and carried him to his room,
thus making the mistake which cost
him his life, as it developed that a
promp operation would probably have
saved him.
On Monday morning Branch lapsed
into a semicoDscious state and had to be
taken TO The hospital. The chief medl-
cal officer, Or. Byrnes, with the members
of his staff Drs. White, Webb and
Stone. decided that an operation was
necessary, and this was performed by
Drs. Finney, of Baltimore, and Kerr, OF
Washington.
The surgeons found clot of blood on
the right side of the brain which had
caused the paralysis Of the left side of
the body andit was removed, Although
it was realized that The operation was
late, yet it was hoped that there would
he a recovery. but toward morning there
was a great weakening in bis condition
and he died at 10 o'clock without having
regained consciousness.
One theory of the immediate cause OF
the death was that Branch was knocked
down and struck his head againsta large
niece of wood, but it is stated by the
surgeons that there was little or no
wound on the head near the clot, and
that his condition was more likely to
have occurred from exhaustion. At the
academy the affair is generally character
lied as "skylarking.". However, there
is no question that the prearranged fight
took place.
Young Branch was buried in the Naval
Cemetery at atAnnspolis this afternoon and
an investigation will be made immediate
". OF cour.e. the actual witnesses
of the affair are not saying anything
about it. but in one way or snOther the
details have become public property.
While Merwether was in class below
Branch, be was a few months older, both
being in their twentieth year.
Both ofthe midshipmen had some repu-
tation as athletes, Branch as wrestler
and Meriwether as football player on
the academy scrub and class team. Merl
wether was somewhat larger, but there
was no great disparity in strength ol
weight. Meriwether has been engaged II
other fights in Annapolis, and hac
achieved some reputation IN that line. III
parents home is at Lafayette, La.
Youug Branch was a fair student
standing in about the middle of his larg'
class of nearly 2jO members. lie wa
youthful in appearance, quite handsom'
and with an extremely brightand health.
appearance .,,, -,
others connected with the academy ar
deeply depressed over the sad affair, an'
the deepest sympathy is expressed Tor hi
parents. Prearranged affairs of the KIM
are fairly freouent at the academy, ant
some Of them have been most brutal.
~ id. f,.,a xE,tb Meath