Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-10-25
LOSES MONTHS
FIGHT FOR LIFE
Will Ferguson Dies at Great
Lakes From Empyenla Fol
lowing Operation

Menasha gave another of her sons in
the cause of Democracy at Z 80 o'clock
Tuesday evening, when William Fer
gusOn passed away at the Great Lakes
Naval Training Station. Little more
than four weeks ago he contracted
Spanish influenza which developed in
to pneumonia About week ago an
operation was resOrted to but death re-
suited from empyema at an early hour
last evening. Throughout the long and
trying illness, "Bill'' bore up with Won
derful courage His father had been
at the training station during the past
three weeks and was with him at the
time of death. A few days ago when
Mr.. Ferguson visited his son, the latter
gave an example of his courage when
he said: "You go home, dad, I'll be all
right
The following message of sympathy
has been sent from the Great Lakes
From the heart of every man at
Great Lakes there goes an unspoken
message of sympathy to the fathers,
mothers, or friends of those who have
died as consequence of the visitation
of Spanish influenza to Great Lakes.
The parents of the Nation, who have
covered up their secret heart pangs
behind cheerful cOuntenance when
giving their sons for their country's
cause would rather have seen their
loved ones fall on the field of battle or
sink. fighting to the last into the vast
depths of the ocean. This glory of
death in valiant fight, however, has
been denied the victims of the present
malady.
To the bereaved parents and brothers
and sisters we can say only this, your
sons have died just as nobly in Amer
ica's cause as if they had perished in
the thick of battle. Take consolation
your precious possession in the name of
Liberty"
William Ferguson was born at North
Hoosie. New York, July 10, 1896, and
graduated from the Menasha high
school with the class of 1914. When
the call for volunteers first came he
enlisted in Company e of Menasha but
was turned back from Camp Douglas
where it was found that an operation
would be necessary if he was to be-
come fit for military service. He will
ingly made this sacrifice and as soon
after the operation as possible he ap-
piled for enlistment in the navy at the
Milwaukee office. He was accepted
and assigned to the naval unit of the
Third Hospital Corps. His spirit of
patriotism and love of country was ever
in evidence and only short time before
his death he expressed hope that he
might recover in time to serve his
country before the allies had brought
home final victory.
Surviving are his parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. William Ferguson, of Ladysmith !;
two sisters, Mrs Frank o. Heckrodt,
of this city, and Miss Grace Ferguson,
of Ladysmith and one brother, James
Ferguson, also of Ladysmith.
The funeral of William Ferguson,
Jr. was held from the home of his Sis
ter, Mrs. Frank Heckrodt Naymut
street, Saturday afternoon at o'clock,
Rev. S. G. Ruegg officiating. Members
of the state guards attended the ser
vices in body and five sailors were
among the active pail bearers. Inter
ment was made at Oak Hill cemetery.
-Menasha Record.
Will was an exemplary young man,
% years of age, bright, Industrious, full
of ambition, with every prospect of a
successful career. His passing away
at the Threshold of manhood seems
particularly sad. During the month
that he lowered between life and death,
with alternating periods of decline and
recovery. his father remained con-
stantly with him, seeing him as fire.
quently as the rules and regard for the
boys strength would permit From
the time the first crisis passed until
very near the end, the young mans re-
covery was expected. After he was
y