Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-12
FIGHT AGAINST DEATH
Dying Man Played Cards Two
Weeks to Keep Himself Alive.
FRIENDS KEPT GAME GOING.

Aged IIinoisan's Mind Diverted With
PenuchIe Till His Son Came From
Belgium to Say FareweII-Lived to
Enjoy Last Reunion He Determined
to Have.
Joseph Hufker of Alton, ILL.,, who
died recently after living long enough
to see the face of his son Louis, who
started on Washington's birthday from
college in Belgium, where he was
studying for the Roman Catholic priest.
hood, had thirteen children, and there
had not been family reunion for thir-
teen years. The father was told by his
physician he was dying from cancer of
the stomach and could not live more
than a week. II will live long enough
to hold another family reunion" he
told the doctor, who shook his head.
Hufker ordered message sent to his
son to leave his studies and hasten
across the ocean to see him, and mes
sage came back that the fathers COM
settled himself to the task Of living
until the time would come for his son
to reach his bedside. The doctor told
him that he must keep up his spirits if
he would live the time desired.
Penuchle was his favorite card game,
and he was an expert who was always
able to uphold his championship claims.
He invited the neighbors to come in
and take the places of his children
when they would become tired of play
ing. Mr.. Hufker seldom slept because
Of the intense pain in his stomach.
Seated in bed, he would play hour aft
er hour. To add zest to the contest he
would urge his opponents to play bet
remained the unbeaten champion of
this game with death. A dozen decks
of cards were worn out.
Hufker played his game so we'll that
he stayed the hand of death one week,
then ten days, then two weeks. The
doctor ceased making his visits, saying
it was no use TO attempt anything fur
Their for the man.
With his face set grimly in his deter
mination not TO die, the old man van
pushed one after another of his oppo-
nents. Every night would find his op-
ponents of the night before ready to
seat themselves on the bed where the
man was dying and keep him alive by
hold limo I'm his fntaraSt in tho mo
When winning was too easy, Mr.. Huff
ker would begin to grow tired, and he
would spur the players on to better
efforts.
The son, who was on the way, was
not heard from by the father until he
walked into the room. He had kept the
family in ignorance of his arrival at
New York and had taken a train i'm
mediately for Alton without telegraph
ing. The suspense aided in keeping the
father alive. When the son had COM
pleted the journey of 6,000 miles to at
tend his father, the other day he walk
ed into the room with both hands out
stretched and a smile on his face.
Father, I've come at last" he ex-
claimed. The dying man was even
then engaged in a game OF penuchle.
He swept aside the cards, forgetting
that his opponents were about to beat
him, and clasped his son in his arms.
The father survived the arrival Of his
son only one day. He enjoyed the last
reunion he had determined TO have.
Another daughter, who is a nun in a
convent, was at his bedside. and all of
the thirteen children were together for
the first time in thirteen years.
Hufker died happily. He was given
the assurance before his death that his
sons early departure from the college
in Belgium would not prevent his be-
ing ordained as priest. He had been
very jealous in pursuing his studies
and had completed his work ahead OF
time. He will be ordained as priest at
Alton in June by Bishop James Ryan.
The attending surgeon said during the
progress Of the case that Il was only
the card games and hope Of seeing his
son that kept the old man alive.
Had it not been for his assidulty In
playing penuchle and thus staving OF
the desire for sleep. which the doctor
said would end in coma and death, the
family reunion for which Hufker con-
tended would not have been possible.