The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-07-24
]. W. RACSDALE
DIES SUDDENLY
CONGRESSMAN PASSES AWAY
IN PHYSICIANS OFFICE AT
WASHINGTON

The people of South Carolina were
no less shocked than those at the
National capitol yesterday afternoon
to learn of the sudden death of Pep.
resentative ]. Willard Ragsdale, OF
the Sixth South Carolina District,
who had become we'll known and
popular during his six years OF con-
gressional service None of the Con-
gressman's friends at the Capitol or
here at home knew anYsAng about
his being in precarious health, as ne
had been attending to business act
iyely as usual and was the picture
of robust manhood. Both the House
of Representatives and the Senate
adjourned Wednesday afternoon out
of respect to the South Carolinian's
memory, the resolution in the House
being offered by Representative
James F. Byrnes and that in the Sen
ate by Senator E. D. Smith.
The death of Mr.. Ragsdale occurr-
ed at the offices of DR.. Dorman, a
prominent Washington physician. he
had gone to DR.. Dorman's offices to
keep an appointment with DIR. Ar,
thur B. Hooe, whom he had consulted
several days ago in regard to the
condition of his heart.
DR.. Dorman and DR.. Hooe hastily
summoned a third physician when
they found that Congressman Rags
dale was in 81 condition of collapse:
The three doctors worked with all
the,r might to resuscitate him, US
ing the most powerful emergency
measures but without avail. DIR. Hooe
said tha. death was due to acute dila-
ton of the heart.
Evidently the patient knew the end
was near, for he turned to DR.. Dor,
man and asked the physician to hold
his hand. DR., Dorman complied and
in a few minutes Mr.. Ragsdale
breathed his last lying on a couch IN
the physicians office.
DR.. Hooe at once tried to get into
communication with Mrs. RagSdaie
but learned she was in South Caro-
lima. He then called up the Repre-
sentative's office.
Several weeks ago Mr.. Ragsdale
complained of nasal trouble and de-
cided to consult nose specialist. He
had received several treatments and
shortly before going to the doctor
yesterday he told Representative
Byrnes that he had been greatly
benefited by the treatment. .
DIR. Dorman requested, because OF
the fact that Mr.. Ragsdale had died
in his office, that the coroner have an
autopsy held on the body. This was
done and the report showed that acute
dilation of the heart, complicated
with serious affection of the kidneys,
had been the cause of death. No an
esthetic was administered to Mr..
Ragsdale and there was no connec-
ton between his visit to DIR. Dor
mans office and the previous treat
ment which he had undergone from
another physician for the slight ma
sal trouble which had been mention
ed to his friends. There was an un-
fortunate rumor in the afternoon
that the South Carolinian had died
while under the influence of an anes-
thetic during an operation on his
nose.
Representative Ragsdale came to
the Sixty-third Congress. He married
the daughter of the late DR.. w. S.
Joynes, long a member of the facul-
ty of the University of South Caro-
lima. Before entering Congress ne
practiced law in Florence, his home
city, and was president of bank
there. Besides his wife Mr.. Ragsdale
is survived by two children, a boy
and a girl.
Mr.. Ragsdale had been prominent
in the debates of the House and was
a member Of the District of Colum-
bia committee, the committee on for
eign affairs and the industrial arts
and expositions committee.
Mr.. Ragsdale was born in Tim
monsville, forty-seven years ago. He
was educated and was a member of
the South Carolina Legislature and
Senate before coming to Congress.
The funeral party left Washington
for Florence at 9 o'clock this morn
ing. The House committee to attend
the funera! will be composed of the
six South Carolina members Of the
House and nine others and the Sem
ate committee will include Senators
Smith and Dial of South Carolina,
Ashurst of Arizona, Beckham of
Kentucky, Harrison of Mississippi,
Fernald of Maine, Sterling of South
Dakota, Spencer of Missouri, Suth-
land of West Virginia, and McHary
of Oregan.
Funeral Tomorrow Afternoon
Florence, July 23.-The funeral