Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-03-03
MRS. Fl. MERRILL
DIES IN new YORK,
PAlATkA M0URNS
One of Most Popular
Young Matrons in
| City Is Called
FOLLOWED OPERATION
Funeral Will Be Held
Sunday Afternoon or
Monday

Mrs. Fred I. Merrill died last
midnight at the Manhattan hospital,
in New York, after an illness of
several weeks, following series Of
three operations. Definite causes of
her death have not been announced
here, but it was announced after the
last operation, about two weeks ago,
that she had developed symptoms Of
meningities.
Although the dread announcement
had been momentarily expected
among practically every citizen Of
Palatka, friends of Mrs. Merrill or
of her family, the announcement
east a gloom over the entire COM
munity, for few of the girls who
have played in Palatka's streets in
childhood and attended the public
schools from the primary grades
through to graduation in the high
school, enjoyed so generally the af-
fectionate regard of everyone.
At the bedside when the last sum-
mons came were the devoted husband
and adoring mother, Mrs. ]. H.
Haughton. They had kept constant
vigil for several weeks, and each day
bulletined the patients condition to
anxious relatives and friends here
by telegraph, Attesting the deep
love for the patient, and concern for
he rcondition was the constant in
quiry of those who daily received
messages from the sick room in New
York, and at some period during the
day practically every friend in the
city asking of her condition.
Had Imminent Surgeon.
Several months ago when it be.
came apparent that an operation
would be necessary to relieve Mrs
Merrill's suffering following an af.
fection in her ear, which resulted
from case of scarlet fever wher
she was child, specialists in Jack
sonville were consulted, and they
Immediately advised an operation
She was directed to DIR. Richards
considered one of the foremost, if no
the foremost specialists in eye, ear
nose and throat diseases in the coun
try.
Early in the fall Mrs. Merrill wen
to New York for the first operation
which was pronounced as successful
During the winter it was apparen
that another operation would be nee
essary and she returned to New Yorl
for the second operation. Then tn,
third was performed, and at the tim,
it was thought that she had final!
passed all danger. Hopeful messages
were received from. Mrs. Haughtol
until about three weeks ago, when {
message came announcing symp
toms of meningitis. Mr.. Merrill lef
Immediately and has been at the bed
side since.
l During those few weeks Mrs. Mer
rill displayed a courage and determi
nation that puzzled the most enlinen
surgeons in New York. They agreed
that ninety-nine out of hundred pa
tents would never have survived ,
day of what she withstood for weeks
Early this week the tone of the mes
sages received were more hopeful un
til yesterday when it was announces
that she seemed to be losing strengtl
= and those nearest and dearest to he
became fearful that the end was neal
Funeral Arrangements Undecided
Definite arrangement of details fo
the funeral have not yet been decide
on. These will depend largely on th
time of the arrival of the remain.
!. They viii leave New York tonight a
II O'Clock, and il all cotinections ar
made should arrive in Palatka at l
lo'clock Sunday morning on the Tan