Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-08-23
BLOOD POISON CAUSES DEATH
Toe Becomes Affected and Finally
His Right Leg is Amputated.
PATIENT CHEERFUL AT TIMES.
During Rallying Periods II Was
Thought He Had a Chance.
BELOVED BY ALL HIS FORCE
Donnhue Came to Omaha I'm 1891,
Taking a Position as Patrol. :.
man--Within a Few Years
He was Made Chief.

Chief Of Police John J. Donahue, died
Joseph's hospital.
He was conscious up to the last
moment and chatted freely with DIR. L.
A. Dermody and the hospital attaches.
Dr. Joseph Borghoff. his son-in-law. was
the only relative at the chiefs bedside
when death called him.
Mrs. .Donahue, the two sons and daugh-
ter, who had been at the hospital the
entire morning yesterday were so en-
couraged by the chiefs cheerfulness
that they left shortly after u O'clock,
and did not know OF his death until in
formed by the sister superior at the
hospital
Fathers Devlin and Doscet, Of Creigh-
ton university, Drs. Dwyer and Der
mody and the chiefs son-in-law. DR..
Borghoff, were at his bedside when he
breathed the last.
Mayor Dahlman visited the chief
shortly after noon yesterday and jok-
ingly asked him IL he wanted him to
send down for the police automobile and
take him for ride. The chief was talk
ing to DIR. Dermody about how good it
would seem to get out In the machine
and get breath of fresh air. when he
raised his head from the pillow and
dropped back dead.
Mrs. Donahue Is prostrated with
grief over her husbands DEATH AL
though the surgeons said death was In
evitable. she hoped against hope that he
would overcome the deadly grip Of the
poison and recover.
The body was taken to the Donaiiue
residence, 1876 South Thlrty-fifth street.
last night
Blister starts Trouble.
| The trouble first started on Monday,
August 5. with a blister on thersmall tos
Of the right foot caused by wearing tight
shoes On Wednesday Of the same week
gangrene set In and within a few hours
the entire foot was swollen.
At first 1t was thought the removal Of
the toe would stop, the deadly poison. This
chiefs weakened condition. caused by
diabetes, made it impossible for the
doctors to operate until he was dieted and
able to withstand the shock.
When he was removed to st. Josepifs
hospital Monday morning August Il. the
entire leg was gangrenous As result
DR.. c. C. Allison was forced to remove
the right leg below the knee,
After the operation the chief continued
to improve until last Friday afternoon.
when he took a turn for the worse. That
night he rallied for a few hours and Sat
urday afternoon he suffered another re-
lapse All hope for his recovery was
given up by close friends Sunday. How
ever, the chief spent a restful night Sun.
day and Monday morning he was so much
improved that the members OF the fam
lily, who had spent the greater part OF
the night at his bedside, renewed hope
for his recovery.
Has n Relapse Wednesday.
The chief continued Ito improve until
Wednesday night, when he took a de-
cided turn for the worse AT times dur
ing the night he was delirious and could
hardly speak above whisper.
Wednesday night the entire leg became
affected by the deadly poison and 1t was
fast taking hold of the upper portion
OF his body. The doctors agreed that
only another operation could prevent the
progress Of the poison, but refused to
operate. knowing the chief would never e
survive the shock.
During the entire two weeks that the :
chief had been at the hospital fovertng
between life and death his wife had been
almost continually at his bedside, refus~
ing to give UP hope, even when the at
tending physicians limited that IT. would
be advisable for the patient to get his
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