The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-07-13
Bunkies Convinced That Private
/ Myrioks Stationed At Ruger,
va Victim Of Mysterious Fate
POISON THEORY SECUTED BY
MEDlC0S AFTER AUTOPSY
No Known Cause For Sudden
Ending Throws Any Light Up
on Latest Garrison Sensation !

Pvt. Henry Myrick, veteran of the
Spanish. American War and soldier in
the quartermaster corps, was frightened
to death, and died at the department
hospital in Fort shafter shortly after
nine O'Clock Wednesday night.
That is what his pals say, and be.
cause they thought a heap of Myrick,
for his happy go-meky ways, they are
determined 70 find out what caused his
sudden death, if possible. .1.s. t-,,
The doctors so far, though they gave
the man every care when he was rushed
from Fort Rhger, where he had been at
work for some time painting different
buildings at the post, are as much in
the dark regarding the cause of the
man s sensational ending as are his en-
listed friends .,s.
Poison idea Abandoned 49,. '-a'
For time it was thought that N.Y.
rick had killed himself With poison, but
this theory petered out when it was
found that the idea was based upon the
fact that the day before his death he
had purchased bottle Of hair tonic,
and that this could not be found after
his passing. H.
K" He was just plum scared TO death
over something said one of his mates
in the barracks where the quartermas-
ter detachment lives at the fort. An
other one said: 49,
al don know what the doctors will
find out about his ihsides, but l know
when q man 3 scared about something,
by the way he looks, and when Myrick
came into this barracks yesterday after
having been on leave for the afternoon
he was scared crazy and trying to hide
IL. His face was all twisted, his eyes
popped fair out of his head, and he
breathed in great gasps like he carried
weight on his chest. He was white
as a ghost, and he knew he was going
to die, because the first thing he said
when he came into the room about half
past four o 'clock, was: well, so-long,
fellows; I'm gone this time. " 81.
Sergeant Thompson's Story 49,.
Sergeant Thompson, in charge Of the
detachment, took up the story. To him
the dead man had given his watch.
about the only trinket of real value he'
possessed. a..
"Myrick had been at work painting
here for some weeks, and Wednesday
he asked and got permission to be abb
sent from the post for the afternoon.
He went out whistling and apparently
in fine spirits. He was in good spirits,
as a rule, and one of the most popular
men in the detachment for his joking
and laughing.
"It was along about half past four
o'clock when he came back, and he was
staggering, though so far as could see
he had not been drinking.
"His eyes bulged out and his lips
looked white and taut, as though he
was trying to keep a stiff upper lip.
His breath was Ginning in labOred gasps
and he shook all over like man who
had been running fast and far beyond
his strength, driven by some terror. -
From the testimony of his bunkies,
Myriek, after saying goodbye to them
went to his bed and threw himself
down. Thompson went to his side
and saw that he was in a serious con
dition. As he bent TO speak to the
man the Pickering lamp of conscious
ness died down and went out for the
last time.
Rushed TO the Hospital ...'
dered some of the men to get the bnck-
board and carried the man to the Fort
Ringer dispensary. The sergeant of
the medical department on duty there
immediately realized the seriousness of
the man Is plight and ordered him rush.
ed to the general hospital at Shafter.
That ambulance, with orders to
hurry, did the distance between the
two posts in less than thirty minutes
But Myriek was past hope when he
reached the hospital, and at half past
nine o. clock the end came. ..-
An autopsy was held yesterday morn
ing, at which were present Colonel Kei-
fer, Major Edgcr and Lieutenant Ludy,
all of the medical department, and ar
rangements were made for a chemical
. analysis of the contents of the man =
stomach, but all of the doctors who
were at the autopsy secuted the idea
that Myrick had killed himself with a
hair tonic, OF that he had been poi
soned. Doctor Ludy said last night
that while it was too early to mako
any definite statement there was moth
ing in the appearance of the man s
stomach to indicate poison.
Private Myriek was fortytwo years
old and a native of Kansas, and had
been in the islands nearly four years.
He had served during the Spanish
American war in battery Of field ar.
tillery, but left the Army after that
enlistment; four years ago he again en-
listed, and was sent at once to Homo
lulu.
The body is being held at the Depart
ment Hospital, pending advice from his
family as to final disposition.
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