William W. Morgan
1909

WILLIAM W. MORGAN DIES OF PARALYSIS.  YOUNG MAN SUCCUMBS TO UNUSUAL MALADY AFTER BRIEF ILLNESS

    

William W. Morgan, 22 years of age, a well-known amateur ball player and an employee at the local post office, died shortly after 5:00 yesterday morning at the Newell Sanitarium following an illness of five days.  His death was due to ascending paralysis induced by toxemia and the case is unique in local medical annals.
    It is believed that young Morgan ate some indigestible food which produced acute indigestion and later toxemia.  In this way his nervous system became affected by what is known as ascending paralysis.  First, his lower limbs and stomach were affected, the deadly paralysis creeping meanwhile toward vital organs.  Yesterday morning the disease reached the respiratory organs and the young man died, passing from life into death painlessly and peacefully.
    When brought to the sanitarium Friday, it was at once seen that young Morgan could not recover and that death with him was only a question of a few days.  No hope was held out for his recovery and the physicians merely labored to make the end as peaceful as possible.  Many local physicians were called to see the patient because of the fact that the disease which caused his death is so rare and unusual.
    Young Morgan had been employed at the post office for about four years and during that time was a favorite among his fellow workers.  He was more popularly known, however, as an amateur ball player having been a member of the East Chattanooga team in the city league.  He was a catcher and an able hitter while his base running made him a favorite with the grandstand.  After the city league dissolved, young Morgan continued as an amateur ball player, first as a backstop for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga team and later with various crack amateur organizations around the city.  
    He went Saturday, July 3, to Trion, Georgia and returning to the city without removing his uniform, caught cold which may have indirectly led to his fatal illness.
    He was a member of Sherman Heights Lodge, Knights of the Pythias and was extremely popular not alone in that suburb, but throughout the city.  
    He is survived by his father, mother and two sisters, all of whom live at Ooltewah where the funeral will be held this morning at 10:00.  It is probable that a large number of friends from this city will attend funeral services.
Chattanooga Times on July 15, 1909

Submitted by Susan Kendall
SusieQ1160@aol.com