Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-01
Death Reveals
HerOiSrr1 of q
Faithful Wife
(Davenort Democrat. }

contancy and devotion to a sick hus-
band, no Drawer struggle against the
sting of poverty and adversely. no
more heroic conquest of an intense
grief which only death can bring,
could hardly be imagined than has
been revealed in the death of Exam
Milcofss, which occurred at Mercy
hospital Friday. He was 30 years old.
For six long weeks during which
time the husband and father was CON
fined at the hospital, the frail little
wife. who barely tips the beam at 95
pounds, walked a distance of two miles
to the hospital. In a apidated go
cart she wheeled her two little babies,
one aged 81 months, the other but
months. They were invariably accom-
panied by their faithful friend, a lit
tie black dog. Mrs. Milcofss would
remain at the hospital all day and far
into the night, oftentimes vending her
way home with her two infants and the
pet dog as late as II o'clock at night
AS best she could the frail little
woman cheered her husband. The lit
tie ones, too young to realize the seri
BUSINESS of his illness or even to know
the meaning of death, played gleefully
in the room as the stricken father
watched them from his bed.
The family are Bulgarians and came
to this country three years ago. The
husband secured employment in the
carpenter shop at Silvis and provided
an humble home for his wife and lit
tie ones at 1925 Ash street in West
Davenport His health failed but he
struggled on and kept at work until
the day he was taken to the hospital.
DIR. Barewald was summoned. His
diagnosis revealed a cancer of the
stomach of malignant growts. An
X-ray examination was made of the
patient and the fears of the physician
fully substantiated. His case was
hopeless.
But while in possession Of this
knowledge and knowing well that
there would not be a cent of remuner-
alton for his services, DR.. Barewald
gave him all the care and attention
that any surgeon could bestow upon a
patient. In order to proIong life he
operated upon the man. The nurses
took kindly interest in the case and
did all within their power to alleviate
his suffering and to cheer the faithful
little woman who remained constantly
by his side.
After weeks of patient suffering on
he part of the husband and anxious
waiting for the wife, the final summons
came and the body was conveyed to
the Nissen & Hartwiig undertaking
parlors.
From here the funeral was held
Saturday afternoon. There was a
small group of friends present 1t was
county burial and therefore not elab-
crate. Those present passed the hat
and raised sufficient money to hire sew
I4- %oIz oy-f
Hartwig donated his auto and in this
was conveyed to the cemetery, where
prayer and a short sermon were given.
And as faithful was the wife to her
dying husband, so was the pet dog to
the woman and her babies. 1t not
only followed them to the hospital
each day but remained constantly by
the baby buggy during the entire day
and night that it was left outside the
hospital. AT first the hospital attend
ants attempted to drive the dog home
but with no success. 1t would return
to the buggy and remain there until
the mother and her babies started
home Then it would follow them.
Seeing the uselessness of attempting
to drive the faithful animal away, the
nurses fed and watered it daily.
Mrs. Milcofss was Frustrated with
grief on the death of her husband but
sufficiently recovered Saturday as to
be able to attend the funeral. She
was accompanied by her babies but
the little black dog was left locked up
at home.
When Mrs. Milcofss returned to her
home after the services she found a
basket of provisions which the Ladies'
Industrial Relief society had sent to
temporarily relieve their hunger and
want.
The woman is fraiI and sickly and
unable to speak the English language.
1t will therefore be difficult for her to
provide for herself and babies. 1t is
believed, however, that the generous
hearted people of Davenport will see
that she does not want for the neces-
Saries of life. The only realtive in this
country is a cousin of the dead hus-
band who resides in Moline He is I'M
able to assist them in the least The
woman's one hope and desire now is
to return to her relatives in Bulgaria
but of course this will be impossible
until after the close of the war. In
the meantime she will be dependent
upon charity.
The primal duties shine aloft, like
The charities. that soothe and heal,
and bless,
Are scattered at the feet of man, like
flowers.
Germans Building Many Trading Ships
The Hague.-That Germany is build
ing a tremendous mercantile feet, in
Guiding the largest ship in the world.
was declared by Herr Balm general
manager of the Hamburg-American
Line, in an interview with the Ham
burg correspondent of the Frankfurter
Zeitung.
The ship referred to is the Bismarck,
of $4,000 tons, being constructed for
the Hamburg American line. There is
also the turbine shiz Tirptz, of
5000 tons under way, and the list also
includes three others of %, 900 tons. At
the Vulcan yards. Bremen, nine ships