East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-07-27
W. ROY SAXTON IS
DEAD AT HOT LAKE
SUDDEN DEATH DUE
TO POLIENCEPHALIT
Young and Popular Reclamation En-
gineer Mourned by Host of Friends
In This City and West End Country
Had Baffling Disease.

w. Roy Saxton, we'll known and
popular member of the reclamation
corps at Hermiston, and who has
host of friends in this city as we'll as
in the west end, is dead at Hot Lake.
He died there at 1880 this morning
and his death Is attributed to the
ravages of the new disease, polience-
phaltis, which is characterized by an
enlargement of the spinal chord.
When the news of the young engl-
neer's death reached the city this
morning it produced profound shock
among those who knew him. Few If
any one in the city knew he was i'll
and in danger. He had gone to Hot
Lake last Thursday and at that time,
according to his friend, Maurice
Scroggs of Hermiston, was complain
ing of feeling unwell. He felt he was
threatened with typhoid and went to
the sanitarium to recuperate. Night
before last Scroggs was at the bedside
of his friend at Hot Lake. At that
time SaNton was .delirous but recog-
nized his friend. The case at that
time was diagnosed as typhoid fever,
but it is now understood that he was
afflicted with poliencephalitis- dis
ease now more or less prevalent in
eastern oregon and which has usual
occurred in Umatilla county and an
even greater number in Union coun-
ty.
w. Roy SaXton was a native of
Berlin, Green Lake county, Wiscon-
sin, and was born November 6, 1881.
His parents, Mr.. and Mrs. George b.
SaXton now live in Madison, Wis,
and We're notified by wire this morn
ing of their sons death. So was a
brother who lives at Miles City Mont.
Funeral arrangements are deferred,
awaiting instructions from the rela-
tives.
The deceased first came to this sec
ton when the reclamation service en-
tered the eastern Oregon field about
eight years ago. At that time Saxton
was an engineer under ]. T Whistler
and worked with the crew which had
offices in this city. When the head
quarters were moved to Hermiston he
went with the force and was actively
in the government service until his
death.
The deceased was q member OF the
Masonic lodge at Hermiston and of
Pendleton lodge No. 2SS, b. p. o. E.
Frank ]. Quinlan, exalted ruler OF
Pendleton lodge, is representing the
Elks in making the funeral arrange
ments and at his request the members
of the Elks lodge at La Grande are
offering their services in caring for
the body. A delegation consisting OF
Maurice Scroggs and ]. w. Campbell
of Hermiston and two young men
from this city will go to La Grande
this evening to take charge of the re-
mains.
OF a genial and lovable disposition
the deceased was popular among all
who knew him and he had hosts of
friends among the young people of the
west end and of this city. He was a
violinist of ability. He was familiar
figure in local social circles.
A Battling Disease.
The disease with which Saxton died
is a battling one for the physicians.
1t is a form of spinal meningitis, but
differs from ordinary meningitis and
| is much more severe. According to
| DR.. c. j. Smith the medical men OF
Massachusetts, have studied polience-
phalitis thoroughly, bdt up to this
time have arrived at no satisfactory
results. They can neither trace the
origin Of the disease in a positive
manner nor are they able to combat
it effectively. There is a theory thai
the disease follows the flow of riv'
ers and may be due to condition:
brought about by irrigation. Another
theory is that it is spread by mos