The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-05-30
Wilbur, One of the Famous Brothers, Passed
Away Early This Morning After Hard
Battle With Typhoid Fever.
WAS The FIRST TO CONQUER The AIR.
Had Been Honored by Kings But Hero Worship
Failed to Turn the Head Of the Modest
Inventor of the Aeroplane.

United Press Leased Wire Service.l /
DAYTON, o., May 30.-Fighting
1eath with the grim determination
and indefatigable energy that charac-
terized his conquest over the air. Will
bur Wright noted aviator, died of ty-
phoid fever at 3:15 this morning, at
the family home here. At his bedside
were his venerable father, Bishop
Milton Wright, sister Katherine, and
brothers Orville, Lorin and Rueschlin. I
DR.. d. B. Conklin also was present
when the end can. 9.
Returning from short business trip,
through the east, May 2, Mr.. Wright
complained of not feeling we'll. Look
ing back to probable cause OF his
indisposition, he recalled having eaten
fish and clam broth at a Boston hotel.
On Saturday, May 4, he was Obliged
to take to his bed. Two nurses we're
secured and to the professional SER
vices of Dr.. Conklin were. added those
of DR.. Levi Splitter. DR.. Fred For
cheimer of Cincinnati was called into
consultation May u.
The case early evidenced the symp-
toms Of typhoid fever in what the doc
tors declared to be the most yirulent
form. It was marked by an excessive
toxaemia and the case was obstructed
by intense cerebral activity OF the pa
tient, due to his great mental strain
incident to planning further develop
ments of the aeroplane, anxiety over
the outcome and labor incident to ex-
tensive litigation involving patent
rights.
The fever rose to 103, 104, 105 and
on last Tuesday morning at 10 O'Clock
the patient was suddenly plunged into
an intense chill when his temperature
rose to 106. The cause of the chill is
not known, the doctors say. On Mon
day slight kidney and bladder COM
plication developed and threatened
much trouble, but was partly over
come within twenty-four hours.
Wednesday at p. M, Mr.. Wright
was able to take a proper amount OF
nourishment for his condition, but his
stupor was somewhat greater since
the morning chill. He had been un-
conscious for approximately two
weeks and during that period his eyes
rolled about as if in a slightly con-
scious effort to fasten upon members
of the family.
The doctors assert that his clean
mode of living and consequent rugged
(, constitution was all that prolonged
life.
Five Years Of Study.
| For five yearssin the city of Dayton
Ohio. Wilbur and Orville Wright
worked to make machine that would
fly. The city of Dayton held theii
secret because no one thought 1t was
! worth telling to the outside world. II
1 was in 1903 that the news was car
ried to Dayton that the Wrights had
4 succeeded In flying at Kitty Hawk
! n. C. 1t was in 1908 that it was real
i ly impressed upon the world thai
L these two sons of Dayton were great
men and Dayton did them honor In {
1 big celebration Since that time, the
Wrights and their aeroplanes have
], been constantly before the public, anC
the two brothers have realized {
large fortune.
When Wilbur Wright was clever
years old and Orvnle was seven
Bishop Milton Wright of the United
Brethren church. came ana showed
his two sons mechanical toy. Whel
, he released it from his hands th'
two boys were astounded to see tha
1t did not fall to the floor but glide,
about the room. The toy soon wa
lost. but the memory of it remaine
, in the minds of the two lads VIII
we're destined to teach the worl
how to fly.
While the brothers were operatin
a bicycle shop in Dayton, Wilbur bt
came secretary of small social clul
! His fellow members enjoyed him
: because he was humorous and he wa
! called the Bill Nye of the organic;
: tion. But his inclination to puzzl
5 over strange problems of the al
: bothered his friends and one of thel
$ kindly advised him to quit trying I
i make flying machine lest he G
! crazy"
In 1902. shortly after Orville Wrigi