Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-09-02
WILLIAM F. Villas
DIES At MADISON
YIELDS QUICKLY TO SECOND AT
TACK WHICH is QUICKLY
FATAL
WAS WIsCoNslN's FOREMOST CIT.
ZEN, SOLDIER, LAWYER AND
STATESMAN.

Madison, Wis, Aug. 27.-Col VII
liam F. Villas, Madison's most distln-
guished citizen, famous as a soldier,
statesman and lawyer, died this morn
ing at 1920 o'clock.
The immediate cause OF death was a
second attack Of cerebral hemmorrage,
which quickly affected vital part and
caused death
A first stroke was sustained on the
morning of July 20, and since then
Col. Villas had lain almost utterly help
less and unconscious. For the past
four weeks he seemed 10 be making a
York, brother Of the patient, was away
from the house. One of the nurses
slight gain toward recovery of con
sciousness and hopes we're entertained
Of recovery.
This morning he seemed as wen as
al any time since the first attack. Dr.
Philip Fox had made his customary
call Dr. Charles H. Villas of New
noticed when they were about to give
MIN a bavh, that his breathing was
heavy and labored. This condition be
came constantly more pronounced
DIT Fox was on the round Of his morn
ing calls and could MOI be reached. Dr.
Villas also could not be reached in
time Within half an hour from the
lime the nurse first detected the bad
symptoms. respiration and pulse had
ceased.
At the time of death there were
present the nurses, Mrs w. r. Villas
Mrs. L. NJ. Hanks, daughter of Col
and Mrs Villas, and L, NJ. Hanks. The
physicians arrived shortly after death
had taken place.
Five Weeks Unconscious.
During the five weeks that Col Villas
lay striker with apoplexy, he did no,
utter more than half a dozen words
never more than word Or two at 4
time His righa side, first affected,
was unchanged from the condition OF
absolute paralysis. except that once or
twice it was thought that the fingers
moved. The evidences of conscious
ness were so slight that it is said %
be doubtful whether there was in fact
true consciousness at all. When ques-
lions were asked as to what he would
like to eat he would utter a mOnosyla-
Bile or seem to nod the head. This
was taken as a sign Of consciousness,
but fl may have been little more than
a manifestation of bodily craving
Of
munication. There were times when
the patient seemed to exhibit con
seriousness of the presence of people or
sounds in the room, seemed to turn
the head toward the direction Of the
door. but these signs may not have
been the manifestation of genuine
consciousness. The Few words that
were spoken during the period of sick
ness were such as might Indicate that
he patient was learning speech anew
as a little child.
Second Stroke Had Been Feared.
The occurrence of a second stroke
\ was the event feared by the physl-
clans. The only chance for recovery al
Ter the first stroke was that the pa
tient might absorb the extravazation
from the brain without the recurrence
OF subsequent hemorrhage. WHAT
happened in the first instance was an
ever-present danger and might happen
again a. any instant As the sickness
developed and continued without SUB
stantiaI gain being realized, the dan
ger became more and more apparent
because OF the necessary growing
weakness Of the body, rendering 1t in
capable of resistance of subsequent at
tack. That is just what occurred, and
when the second attack came. the par
aIysis spread rapidly and soon vital
organs were reached, suspending the
vital functions and causing death.
Gov Davidson to Return.
GOV. Davidson was informed by teIe-
phone from he executive Office and
Immediately said he would revise his
plans for a weeks absence and return
in time for the funeral He also SAID
he would prepare a proclamation.
The funeral arrangements are in
complete. but 1t VIII probably Ice held
Saturday afternoon and interment
viii be in the family lot IN Forest Hill
ceretary.
Born in Vermont.
WiI.ian Freeman Villas. former
United States senator and member o.
49, .r..,,,. AMIN, O. president We've