The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-11-08
Demise of Popular Man Fol
lows a Long Illness From
Laryngitis and Tuberculo-
sis of the Throat.
REALIZES END is NEAR
AND PREPARES HIS WILL
In Following His Ambition to
Build Up the West He Over
taxed His Voice While Max
ing Speech and HaStenS End
UTTERANCES WILL LIVE
Fisher Sanford Harris is dead.

Fisher Sanford Harris is dead.
After a period of Slight improve
ment taken as a hopeful sign, he
suffered a severe relapse yesterday
afternoon and died at $50 o'clock
last night, conscious to the last
breath. Those who stood about him
say that he died smiling and peace
full.
Surrounded by lifelong friends and
members of his family, and the whole
city hanging tense on the latest news
from his bedside, he smiled the rec
ognitiOn that long-lost voice denied,
and made it known that he was
aware of the approach of death. Sew
eral minutes before the end he indi
Gated his desire to be placed in a
chair, where he died with no tremor
nor any sign Of pain or struggle.
Death was due to laryngitis complicat-
ed with tuberculosis of the throat
Two years ago Mr.. Harris strained his
vocal chords in his famous speech at
Denver before the Dry Farming con-
Bress. The speech brought the congress
10 Salt Lake, but Fisher Harris returned
with his brilliant career as an orator for
ever shattered by the loss of his voice.
Learned specialists told him the strain
was but temporary and that he would
recover mis- speaking powers. \ year ago
such proved to be the case and for the
brief space of three months he again
. sought To assume his title as the great
est orator and public speaker of the
west Last spring, the disease coming
on again with complications, forever
blighted his hopes. and he grew steadily
worse, the affhction causing a general
physical breakdown.
Early in October as a last resort, he
went with Mrs Harris to New York TO
consult with DR.. Janewen. q famous
throat specialist Within one week he
returned home with the specialists YER
diet that he might live three months or
he might die within ten days.
His condition was kept from the public
for fear the general concern would af-
feet his spirit. Medical aid being de-
SPARED OF, Christian Science was called
into use. and the little family took new
hope. Cheerful from habit, Mr.. Harris
kept his loved ones cheerful, and al
though fully aware Of his condition,
hoped against hope himself.
Knew End Was Near.
Saturday he impaired to his family his
asked that Judge o. ". Powers be called.
in long conference with his friend he
drew up his last will in full possl s9p of
all his mental faculties and bid ! 5ddse
Powers g0Od-by. informing him that he
did not expect to live more than several
days longer.
At the time Of the relapse yesterday
afternoon, Gus ) Holmes, Joseph z.
Game, W. J. Hall0ran. A. J. Davis and
other friends hurried 10 the Harris home
at pa Thirteenth East street and were
with Mr. Harris when he died. Mrs. Har-
ris, Frustrated at first, bore up as well
as could he expected. Worn out with
days of anxious watching, she happily
fell asleep several hours after her hus-
bands death and is resting easily today.
Fisher Sanford Harris was the organ
izer and secretary OF the Salt Lake Com
meTcial club. the medium through which
he welded probably greater influence for
good for Salt Lake and Utah than any
man in the history of the state. He was
originator of the See America First
idea one that has received national rec
ignition. He was president OF the Dry
Farming congress for one year and is
known as one of the founders of that as
ISOLATION. His speech before that body
at Denver two years ago has gone down
in history as one of the most eloquent
nasterful orations ever delivered by an
American. The last lines of this speech;
when nesting birds shall fill the can
mons mouth and Fashioned forts are
Continued on Page 2.