The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-16
Earle D. Wilson Fails in
Brave Battle Made for
His Life.
SPINE FRACTURED
IN FOOTBALL GAME
Every Attention Given, But Science
Could Not Save
Him.

ASNAPOLIs. Nd, April Is-Death
came at 5-30 this morning 10 ATidship-
man Earle ,. Wilson, OF CovinEton.
Ky. whose spine was dislocated and
fractured ar the neck during a football
game played on October Is last at An /
napolls, between the eIeveus Of the
Naval Academy and Villa Nova College
Death came peacefully and was due 20
exhaustion, a gradual sinking and loss
OF power in all the functions of IIfs- /
Near Wilson al the end were his father, {
IVES 3. Wilson. OF Covington; his sis
ter, Mrs. Calvin; two brothers and 9th
er members OF his family His mother
{ is dead Today Is exactly six months
/ from the date OF the accident
The young naval athlete made a brave
fight for his life and Il was not until a
week ago thar he made the statement
F that ne knew death was near. This
was made 20 his brother, 10 whom he
said that he realized that he must die
and would be glad when the end came.
T he has at all times during the terrible
siege through which ne has passed been
/ patient, brave and considerate.
Hope OF Recovery Retained
/ For some months after the injury and
operation Wilson was confident Of mis-
ultimate recovery. and even talked
/ ABOUT playing football again, and mani
+ tested keen interest IL al the depart
nents OF academy life
I only once since. shortly after the ac-
Cident, has there been any hopeful symp-
tom, that being about three months
ago. when slight spasmodic movements
were noticed in one arm and leg. L
was then hoped that the spinal cord
{ had recubersted IN a measure. but Il
was soon demonstrated that these
1 twItchings had their inception IN local
+ centers. below the point o. lesion and
Z did nor indicate any faporaoie progress
as 20 the injury 70 the core.
& Throughout his Illness, Wilson has re-
ceived every token q the affection and
every one connected with the Naval
+ Academy, ss well as from persons all
over the country. Every professional
I and personal attention has been given
r5u- nv he star and egsfSranre ~ re
4 hospital
Recipient Of Attentions
( HIS schoolmates, particularly those OF
I his own class, have seen t1at he had
+ every attention and comfort Mrs.
f Bowyer, wife OF the superintendent Of
( the Naval Academy, has called every
. day. and Chaplain H H Clark. Of the
I Academy. has been most attentive 4
number of the young women visited him
: and sang 10 him, an attention which
/ Hidsnlpman wilson seemed 10 enjoy
/ thoroughly.
/ The accident which caused the fatal
Z injuries 10 AGldshipmsn Wilson took
I place on October IS last, during foot
Z ball game between the teams OF the
I Naval Academy and NlllanOva College
I wilson made diving tackle and his
I head was knocked violently 20 the side
Z he became unconscious at once and A
I hasty - animation indicated that his
/ spine WAS severely injured He was
{ covered consequences some hours later.
I but Il was found that he was completely
I paraIyzed below the neck
An x-ray examination showed that
+ there was a fracture Of the ffth SPINAL
/ Eertebrae and further examination indi-
/ Gated that there was q severe disloca-
/ ton between the fourth and fifth verte-
I hr2a The attending surgeons with
I whom SUrgean General Stokes ana Tlr
/ Harvey CUChinE. Of Johns Hopkins Hos
! pifal. were called IN consultation decidsd
would he uuwise TO operate al the time
Delicate Operation Intellectual
/ Ry November :, Wilson gathered
! strength 10 the extent Of making an op-
GRAFTON advisable, and a most delicate
operation was performed By Surgeon
/ Stokes on that date. The laniuss OF the
F. fourth. fifth, and sixth vertebTse yva~a
F. cut away so as 70 remove the pressure
Z from the spinal cord Wilson'S chances
{ for recovery were much Increased. l7,r
: within a month IL became pIsi7 +bsr
the lesion had been so great that II
could not heal
There has been no sensation or vo5-
Z unJaTy movement below the neck since
the accident, but everything rloSsihIa
/ has been done for Wilson. He has bee0
+ given massage and electrical Treatment
/ regularly. but IT has had no erect
/ Long ago, il became clear that his
/ death was only a matter OF p sr,,--
time A decided change for the vyor[e
I took place on Friday OF last week. ard
J on Thursday Of the present week II
I vas thought that the end would come
in q few hours Even at this stage
/ Wilson's wonderful vitality showed it.
l self and Il was not until this morn
I ing that he breathed his last
/ Wilson was undoubtedly the great est
/ athlete n the Academy and one OF The
/ finest that has ever represented the in
/ baseball and basketball player In the
I institution, and a point winner for his
Z class in boxing ana tumblinC- He was
I pIavinz as a regular member OF the
I football team for ms hTst season when
! the accident occurred BE was a hard
I and spirited player, but never lost his
I temper and always showed the highest
( deeree OF craftsmanship
Funeral Services Held.
/ At 80 O'Clock this afternoon the body
Of NIidshipman Wilson was placed on
the cars to be carried to his former
home for fnterment The body Will be
taken to the home OF his father, in
/ Coviuzton, XIV, and viii be inferred in
the family vault at independence, Ky.
on Monday next
/ Preceding the departure OF the body.
Continued on Eleventh Page)