Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-11
DR.. W. R. HARPER IS DEAD
President of University of hicago Expires
After Long Illness.
DEATH DUE TO CANCER OF lNTesHNEs
He Had Known for Months that He
Was n Doomed Man, but Reso-
lutely Continued His
Work. OIL

CHICAGO, Jan. lO.-Dr. William Rainey
Harper. president of the University of Chi
cago since it's inception, one of the fore
most educators and one OF the most learned
Hebrew scholars of his time, died today of
cancer of the intestines.
Three years ago, DR.. Harper underwent
an operation for appendicitis and symp-
toms were then discovered which led the
surgeons to suspect that graver troubles
might arise in the future, but they were
then OF too Indefinite a character to per-
nit of an operation, and 1t was not until
February 2. 1906 that an operation was de-
cided upon to determine the nature and
cause of severe abdominal pains from which
he had suffered for several months. DIR.
McBurney of New York. the famous spe-
cialist in abdominal surgery, came to Chi
cago especially for the operation, in which
he was assisted by Drs. Billings and Bevan
OF this city At the outset of the opera
ton, it 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 have removed it would have
been fatal to the patient. A brief consulta-
ton of the surgeons resulted in the con-
clusion that there nothing more that
hope OF DR.. Harper lay in remedial meas
ures alone. In short time he left the
hospital. knowing well that he was
doomed man, that his disease could not
be cured and that his death must ensue
within q short time, no matter what was
done in the effort to avert it.. No braver
fight was ever made by any man than DIR.
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
cheerful. The x-ray treatment was elabor-
ated in the effort to AFFORD him relief and
everything was done for him that the in
genuity and skill of his physicians could
suggest.
Approach of the End.
Although DIR. Harper never deluded him
self with false hopes. he faithfully at
| tempted whatever offered him a hope of
recovery. At times his condition would
improve and then would come relapses
that would leave him weaker than before.
Despite all that was done for him. he
lost steadily In all things save courage.
| Several times the malady progress, in
such a manner that small surgical opera
lions were necessary to AFFORD him tenn
porary relief.
! Just prior to the holidays a portion OF his
strength came back and II was thought that
under the influence of a milder climate his
health would improve. All preparations
were made for the journey to the south,
but at the last minute he was too feeble
to attempt the trip and It was abandoned
During the last fortnight his strength had
failed rapidly and it was evident to his
medical attendants that the end could not
be far off. Messages were sent to his imme-
diate relatives and all Of them were at the
house today when he died. DIR. Billings
later issued the following statement:
For two weeks DIR. Harper has failed
| rapidly. He and his family and friends
| recognized the approach of the end. His
/ physical condition has been kept reason
aSr rss a rO pam az oy ,ns use OF Xery
4 OF opium His mind remained clear Until