The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-01-11
DR. HARPER DEAD
PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY
 OF CHICAGO EXPIRES.
For a Long Time IL Was Known That His Doom Was Inevitable, But Patient Never Lost
 Courage.


 Chicago, Jan. 1o.--Dr. William Rain of Chicago. since it's conceptions; one of the foremost educators and one of the most learned Hebrew scholars of his time. died today of cancer of the intestines.
 Although his death was known to be inevitable within a comparatively short time. and it had been announced earlier in the day thar he would not in all probability survive for the re- mainder of this week, the end of his life, due to his physical condition, came suddenly.
 Three years ago Dr. Harper under went an operation for appendicitis and sYnptofns were siien discovered which led tho surgeons to suspect that grav- CT troubles might arise in the future but they were then of too indefinite and 1t was not until February 2e. 1905, that an operation was decided upon to determine the nature and cause of severe abdominal pains from which he had suffered for several months.
 Dr. .McBurney of New York. the famous specialist in abdominal sur gerry, came to Chicago expressly for the operation, in which he was assisted by Doctors Billings and Bevan, of this city At the outset of the operation 1t was discovered that Dr. Harper was suffering from a cancer at, the head of the large intestine and that the malady had progressed so far that an operation which would remove 1t would have been fatal to the patient. A brief consultation of the surgeons resulted in the conclusion that there was noth- ing more that could be done by them and that the only hope for Dr. Harper l.. EaI nIn
 In a short time he left the hospital. knowing well that he was a doomed man; that his disease could not be cured and that his death must ensue within a short time, no matter what was done in the effort to avert it. No braver fight was ever made by any man than by pr. Harper. He took up his duties at the University as though nothing had happened or was likely to happen to him, and he was at all times apparently confident and cheer full. The X-ray treatment was elab- orated in the effort to afford him re- lief and everything was done for him that the ingenuity and skill or his physicians could suggest.
 Although pr. Harper never deluded himself with false hopes, he faithfully attempted. whatever offered hope for recovery. Despite all that was done for him. he lost steadily in all things
 
 adv progressed in such manner that small surgical operations were neces- sary to afford him temporary relief. Just prior to the holidays a portion of his strength came back and 1t was thought that under the influence of milder climate his condltloh would lm- prove. All preparations were made for inc tourney to the South but at the last minute he was too feeble to att tempt the trip and it was abandoned
 During the last fortnight his strength had failed rapidly and 1t was evident to his medical attendants that the end could not be far off. Messages we've sent to his immediate relatives and all of them were at the house to- day when he died.
 Dr. Harper left q statement outlin- ing his wishes for the ceremonies of his funeral. A detail which he em- nhasized both in writing and in per- son. was that no regular university exercIse should be suspended except during the hours of the funeral ser
 The body will remain in charge of the family until saturday. It will then be transferred to Haskell Hall on the TTot,iersitV grounds escorted by the TYnivorslty band, members of the Uni Eersit, senate and council The body viii lie in Haskell Hall until Sunday midday under q guard Of honor.
 The funeral SerNlCSS VIII De held at inc University Sunday afternoon at
 pr. W. R. narpg,r. was ,sss born , in New taio- 1,itb the degree of A. B. iron: Muskingum Mus college in that place in 1870. A short time after this he went to Vale University, where he carried on st,djas of special character in the languages. The noxt year he acted as President of '.o Masonic son so col!ess ,dlt at Sran,,i,la Q as tutor in Dennison Uni- versity Vsr,iit and as principal of Granville Academy whlc4 was aavars,tp tas tpFeP%rotSry Sep Se n,as onpoiutcd Professor of the He Drew bT iansuase n the , BaDtist Baptist Union m where he remained for five years. Tn Ir'' 1SSs he was asked by Yale Unlver- sit sty i'io to become ProIss99r Pis9on of w5s5 Semitic eicnfcd eI,t,tt' PrGsid'ut .f Chicago Univer- | sity.