Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-08-06
Orders Coffin and ATranges
For Burial.
WAS BITTEN BY A CAT

tn OF his home al 40 East twenty
fourth street. Bayonne. y. j.. on Tues
day.
He was reading a newspaper DC
casionally he put hand to his throat
aud opened his mouth widely as II IA
take a longer breath. Presently he put
aside the paper and spoke to his son
Cornelius.
Neil" he said. quietly. Il wish you
would phone to Frank Dempsey and
ask him to run over and see me right
away"
Young Hardy. who knew that his
father and Dempsey. an undertaken
were old friends. thought little of the
remark. He repeated to the under.
taker over the phone what his father
had told him.
Dempsey came Immediately. He
greeted Hardy. like himself an Irish
man. with a Joke on the hot weather
laugh and a handshake.
Whats doing. Jim" said Dempsey
'rm Going TO Die Tomorrow"
Hardy sat down and said as cool as
If he had been discussing another
mans affairs: I'm going to die TO
morrow. Frank. want you to make
all arrangements for my funeral and
the burial Just see to IL that get a
good coffin and that everything is done
right"
The undertaken leaned back and
laughed.
You were always a great one for
jokes. jim" said Dempsey. but
can't see much point to this one.
What's the matter with you?"
1T isn't a joke said Hardy. in a
tone that Dempsey didn't like. I'm
done for. tell you. and | want to
know that I'll be properly looked af.
ter
Young Hardy was as much aston
ished as Dempsey His father had com.
planned little now and then. but OF
no serious ailment The young man
had almost forgotten an incident that
happened four months ago-an acct
dent to the elder Hardy in the Stand
ard oil plant.
1T isn't anything about that cat
bite. Is il. father?" he asked
IT'S my heart" said James Hardy.
Get Or. Cook to come here. want
him now"
Cornelius Hardy phoned 10 DIR. John
Cook Hardy told the doctor that he
had pains in the heart and tina; IL was
difficult some times for him to breathe.
He said he felt sure that his heart
was diseased.
I'm going TO die tomorrow. doctor.
he went on. I've already made ar.
rangements for my burial"
Nonsense. said DR.. Cook You'll
be all right. Don't get such ideas into
your mind"
I'm a dead man. | tell you" said
Hardy with some excitement
The doctor examined him. concluded
that Hardy was suffering from heart
trouble which might easily be a cause
for Indifferent breathing and left pre-
scriptions He heard nothing about the
accident four months ago.
AZ . o'clock at night Hardy was in
agony. He clutched his throat and was
barely able to articulate. He felt that
he was suffocating The pains In his
heart were terrible. At times his
body was shaken with commissions lie
gasped request that Father Reilly.
of the Church OF St Henry. be sent for
Raves at Sight Of Water.
Father Reilly arrived in a few min
utes and found Hardy in n delrium.
The priest recognized the signs of ap.
preaching death. He sat by the bed.
side calming the sufferer and after a
time administered the last sacraments.
He made inquiries OF the son. Corne-
Illus told him that James Hardy had
been bitten by cat four months ago.
The cat caught Hardy's hand and sank
its teeth in two fingers. He killed the
animal and had his fingers dressed. So
far as the son knew there were no in.
dications until Tuesday afternoon
that his father had hydrophobia He
was certain though that hydrophobia
was killing his father Or. Cook was
called again. Hardy was raving when
he got 10 the house The doctor iden.
titled the symptoms Instantly He tried
the patient with water. offering 1t to
him In a glass. then in a spoon. The
sight OF II threw the man into par
oxysms of violence He muttered con-
stantly He had a fever Of liz degrees.
Froth came TO his lips. Morphine was
injected several times before the doc
tor was certain that his patient did
not feel pain. At $50 a. m. Hardy died.
Dr. Cook made ont certificate In
regular form and the body was turned
over to Undertaken Frank Dempsey.
aho prepared il for burial. Mr. Demp-
sey was shocked when the news reach
ed him early in the morning that his
friend was dead.
Cumberland, Md, Shows Growth.