New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-12
DURYEA DIES; NECK
BROKEN Z YEARS AGO
Four Months Illness Ends Life
After Recovery from Usually
Fatal Injury.
HURT IN 1899 WHILE DIVING
Had to Pass Silent Hour" Each
Day, with Frequent Bathing
and Massage-Inher-
tied Half Million.

Walter F.. Duryea. who broke his neck
in 1899 while diving at oyster Bay.
died last night at Upper Montclair.
N j.. after an illness lasting four
months He was the son of the late Ed
gar f. and Julia c. Duryea and was
forty-four years old.
After the accident twelve years ago
Duryea was taken TO sanatorium,
where he spent many months. His re-
covery from the usually fatal injury
astonished the medical fraternity. To
add 10 the young mans difficulties at
that time was the death Of his father.
which depressed him greatly just when
he needed all his strength
The father. too, I'm his will had made
provision that the son could enjoy
only the interest on 100000 for a period
OF two years II he survived that length
of time he was to have the control of the
entire estate. which was valued at $780,
600 When the young man was asked
regarding the two year-old clause by
friends who had called upon him in the
institution he showed his depression by
saying languidly: Il have no plans for
the future"
There was. however, no doubt in
Duryea's mind that he was going 10
get we'll He insisted to his doctors that
not only would he live the required two
years, but that he expected TO live even
thirty years. This faith, the physicians
said. did more to build him up than
their treatment.
One of the things the physicians in
sisted upon in their treatment was that
he should pass each day a silent hour y
During this period Duryea was not al
lowed to say a word.
He occupied a handsome suite, and
within convenient distance, on the same
floor. were thermo- electric baths and
Turkish and Swedish baths. II was said
at the time that frequent bathing, as
we'll as massage, was instrumental in
bringing about his recovery.
He was wheeled about the grounds
after a time, and each day enjoyed
sun bath of several hours While at
first he had to occupy recumbent posi-
ton when resting. he was soon able TO
fetal support Then he was able To
move his head with perfect ease.
He never recovered the use Of his
limbs. however. although the muscles
of his chest were strengthened by sys-
tematic exercises His entire time up
until about three weeks ago was de
voted TO reading. Then he became so
weak that his one enjoyment was taken
from him.
One Of the remarkable things In con-
nection with his years Of invaldism was
the successful legal battle he directed to
win the fight waged upon him by his
sisters over the Duryea estate. He was
i'm constant communication with the out
side world by means of telephone
which was strapped to his head.
Duryea was a fine looking man. He
was more than six feet tall. and weighed
about 200 pounds at the time he was
hurt. He was always dressed with scru-
pulous care. and up to month ago was
shaved regularly by the village barber
II was his custom each day, no matter
what the weather was, To be driven
about in his automobile. He was fire.
ouent visitor at the Montclair Country
Climb.