One of the brightest minds in Columbia was lost in eternal sleep yesterday afternoon by means of an accidental overdose of one of the very drugs with which he was most familiar. Dr Richard Ferguson Jr, regarded generally as one of the brightest specialists in the southern states, a man whose professional skill was such as to command the attention of all associates, was found dead in an easy chair in his office about 5:30 o'clock, his face buried in a handkerchief soaked with chloroform. He had been dead at least two hours. There was no one in the house when the end came, his wife having gone to her old home in Hampton, Virginia, some weeks ago to visit her family.
The story of the unfortunate affair is as peculiarly sad one. The brilliant young fellow was born in Chester, Virginia April 4, 1874. He graduated with distinction at the University College of Medicine of Richmond, Virginia. He came here about a year and a half ago, being very weak physically, and began the practice of his profession as an eye, ear and nose specialist. It was not long before his brilliant qualities were recognized, and he soon built up a large and lucrative practice. At the examination before the South Carolina Medical Board, Dr Ferguson received the highest grade ever recorded by the board.
In the past ten days, Dr Ferguson has been in a highly nervous condition, but none realized his real state. It developed yesterday evening that he had been unable to sleep at all for four days except with the aid of chloroform.
On Wednesday he was particularly nervous. Yesterday morning the little negro office boy, Twitty Boston, says Dr Ferguson was lying on the couch in his office with his clothes on. He'd been up all night. He would not eat breakfast or dinner and he refused to see any patients. At 4:30 o'clock, the boy went into the office to see if the doctor wanted anything. He found the doctor sitting in the chair, his head buried in a handkerchief. He tried to rouse him and could not. It was evident that Dr Ferguson had been slowly inhaling the drug in search of sleep, when it overcame him, and his head dropped into the handkerchief in his hands. He had been dead at least two hours.
The deceased physician was a son of Rev Richard Ferguson, a native of Dinwiddie County, Virginia, and a prominent minister in the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Church. While attending the University College of Medicine, Dr Ferguson married Miss Elizabeth Sheets of Hampton, Virginia. Not having completed his medical course, Dr Ferguson kept his marriage secret for two years. Dr Ferguson's three brothers, R T Ferguson, J W Ferguson, and C G Ferguson, now reside in Richmond, Virginia.
Dr Ferguson was a member of the local lodge of Ellks and the members of the organization immediately took charge of affairs at the residence on Blanding street, notifying the coroner and wiring the sad news to the young wife in Virginia.
BODY OF DR FERGUSON CARRIED TO VIRGINIA
Escorted to the Train by the Columbia Elks, and Member of the Medical Society
The body of the late Dr Richard Ferguson Jr, the story of whose sudden death was told yesterday, was cared for during Thursday night by a committee from the local lodge of Elks, receiving those friends of the family who called at the residence. At 5 o'clock the members of the organization assembled at the club rooms, donned their purple and white badges, veiled in crepe, and marched in a body to the residence, thirty strong.
The casket was then borne to the hearse by eight Elks and members of the medical society. The procession that marched behind the hearse was headed by Exalted Ruler Clark; behind him were the members of the order, two by two. Then came several large carriages bearing the members of the Medical Society and several friends of the family.
The body was sent away on the Seaboard train and was accompanied by a committee of Elks, and Dr P V Mikell accompanied the body as the special escort on behalf of the Columbia Medical Society. The lodge of Elks at Petersburg were notified that the committee from Columbia would arrive there this morning with Dr Ferguson's body.
The story of the unfortunate affair is as peculiarly sad one. The brilliant young fellow was born in Chester, Virginia April 4, 1874. He graduated with distinction at the University College of Medicine of Richmond, Virginia. He came here about a year and a half ago, being very weak physically, and began the practice of his profession as an eye, ear and nose specialist. It was not long before his brilliant qualities were recognized, and he soon built up a large and lucrative practice. At the examination before the South Carolina Medical Board, Dr Ferguson received the highest grade ever recorded by the board.
In the past ten days, Dr Ferguson has been in a highly nervous condition, but none realized his real state. It developed yesterday evening that he had been unable to sleep at all for four days except with the aid of chloroform.
On Wednesday he was particularly nervous. Yesterday morning the little negro office boy, Twitty Boston, says Dr Ferguson was lying on the couch in his office with his clothes on. He'd been up all night. He would not eat breakfast or dinner and he refused to see any patients. At 4:30 o'clock, the boy went into the office to see if the doctor wanted anything. He found the doctor sitting in the chair, his head buried in a handkerchief. He tried to rouse him and could not. It was evident that Dr Ferguson had been slowly inhaling the drug in search of sleep, when it overcame him, and his head dropped into the handkerchief in his hands. He had been dead at least two hours.
The deceased physician was a son of Rev Richard Ferguson, a native of Dinwiddie County, Virginia, and a prominent minister in the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Church. While attending the University College of Medicine, Dr Ferguson married Miss Elizabeth Sheets of Hampton, Virginia. Not having completed his medical course, Dr Ferguson kept his marriage secret for two years. Dr Ferguson's three brothers, R T Ferguson, J W Ferguson, and C G Ferguson, now reside in Richmond, Virginia.
Dr Ferguson was a member of the local lodge of Ellks and the members of the organization immediately took charge of affairs at the residence on Blanding street, notifying the coroner and wiring the sad news to the young wife in Virginia.
BODY OF DR FERGUSON CARRIED TO VIRGINIA
Escorted to the Train by the Columbia Elks, and Member of the Medical Society
The body of the late Dr Richard Ferguson Jr, the story of whose sudden death was told yesterday, was cared for during Thursday night by a committee from the local lodge of Elks, receiving those friends of the family who called at the residence. At 5 o'clock the members of the organization assembled at the club rooms, donned their purple and white badges, veiled in crepe, and marched in a body to the residence, thirty strong.
The casket was then borne to the hearse by eight Elks and members of the medical society. The procession that marched behind the hearse was headed by Exalted Ruler Clark; behind him were the members of the order, two by two. Then came several large carriages bearing the members of the Medical Society and several friends of the family.
The body was sent away on the Seaboard train and was accompanied by a committee of Elks, and Dr P V Mikell accompanied the body as the special escort on behalf of the Columbia Medical Society. The lodge of Elks at Petersburg were notified that the committee from Columbia would arrive there this morning with Dr Ferguson's body.
One of the brightest minds in Columbia was lost in eternal sleep yesterday afternoon by means of an accidental overdose of one of the very drugs with which he was most familiar. Dr Richard Ferguson Jr, regarded generally as one of the brightest specialists in the southern states, a man whose professional skill was such as to command the attention of all associates, was found dead in an easy chair in his office about 5:30 o'clock, his face buried in a handkerchief soaked with chloroform. He had been dead at least two hours. There was no one in the house when the end came, his wife having gone to her old home in Hampton, Virginia, some weeks ago to visit her family.
The story of the unfortunate affair is as peculiarly sad one. The brilliant young fellow was born in Chester, Virginia April 4, 1874. He graduated with distinction at the University College of Medicine of Richmond, Virginia. He came here about a year and a half ago, being very weak physically, and began the practice of his profession as an eye, ear and nose specialist. It was not long before his brilliant qualities were recognized, and he soon built up a large and lucrative practice. At the examination before the South Carolina Medical Board, Dr Ferguson received the highest grade ever recorded by the board.
In the past ten days, Dr Ferguson has been in a highly nervous condition, but none realized his real state. It developed yesterday evening that he had been unable to sleep at all for four days except with the aid of chloroform.
On Wednesday he was particularly nervous. Yesterday morning the little negro office boy, Twitty Boston, says Dr Ferguson was lying on the couch in his office with his clothes on. He'd been up all night. He would not eat breakfast or dinner and he refused to see any patients. At 4:30 o'clock, the boy went into the office to see if the doctor wanted anything. He found the doctor sitting in the chair, his head buried in a handkerchief. He tried to rouse him and could not. It was evident that Dr Ferguson had been slowly inhaling the drug in search of sleep, when it overcame him, and his head dropped into the handkerchief in his hands. He had been dead at least two hours.
The deceased physician was a son of Rev Richard Ferguson, a native of Dinwiddie County, Virginia, and a prominent minister in the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Church. While attending the University College of Medicine, Dr Ferguson married Miss Elizabeth Sheets of Hampton, Virginia. Not having completed his medical course, Dr Ferguson kept his marriage secret for two years. Dr Ferguson's three brothers, R T Ferguson, J W Ferguson, and C G Ferguson, now reside in Richmond, Virginia.
Dr Ferguson was a member of the local lodge of Ellks and the members of the organization immediately took charge of affairs at the residence on Blanding street, notifying the coroner and wiring the sad news to the young wife in Virginia.
BODY OF DR FERGUSON CARRIED TO VIRGINIA
Escorted to the Train by the Columbia Elks, and Member of the Medical Society
The body of the late Dr Richard Ferguson Jr, the story of whose sudden death was told yesterday, was cared for during Thursday night by a committee from the local lodge of Elks, receiving those friends of the family who called at the residence. At 5 o'clock the members of the organization assembled at the club rooms, donned their purple and white badges, veiled in crepe, and marched in a body to the residence, thirty strong.
The casket was then borne to the hearse by eight Elks and members of the medical society. The procession that marched behind the hearse was headed by Exalted Ruler Clark; behind him were the members of the order, two by two. Then came several large carriages bearing the members of the Medical Society and several friends of the family.
The body was sent away on the Seaboard train and was accompanied by a committee of Elks, and Dr P V Mikell accompanied the body as the special escort on behalf of the Columbia Medical Society. The lodge of Elks at Petersburg were notified that the committee from Columbia would arrive there this morning with Dr Ferguson's body.
The story of the unfortunate affair is as peculiarly sad one. The brilliant young fellow was born in Chester, Virginia April 4, 1874. He graduated with distinction at the University College of Medicine of Richmond, Virginia. He came here about a year and a half ago, being very weak physically, and began the practice of his profession as an eye, ear and nose specialist. It was not long before his brilliant qualities were recognized, and he soon built up a large and lucrative practice. At the examination before the South Carolina Medical Board, Dr Ferguson received the highest grade ever recorded by the board.
In the past ten days, Dr Ferguson has been in a highly nervous condition, but none realized his real state. It developed yesterday evening that he had been unable to sleep at all for four days except with the aid of chloroform.
On Wednesday he was particularly nervous. Yesterday morning the little negro office boy, Twitty Boston, says Dr Ferguson was lying on the couch in his office with his clothes on. He'd been up all night. He would not eat breakfast or dinner and he refused to see any patients. At 4:30 o'clock, the boy went into the office to see if the doctor wanted anything. He found the doctor sitting in the chair, his head buried in a handkerchief. He tried to rouse him and could not. It was evident that Dr Ferguson had been slowly inhaling the drug in search of sleep, when it overcame him, and his head dropped into the handkerchief in his hands. He had been dead at least two hours.
The deceased physician was a son of Rev Richard Ferguson, a native of Dinwiddie County, Virginia, and a prominent minister in the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Church. While attending the University College of Medicine, Dr Ferguson married Miss Elizabeth Sheets of Hampton, Virginia. Not having completed his medical course, Dr Ferguson kept his marriage secret for two years. Dr Ferguson's three brothers, R T Ferguson, J W Ferguson, and C G Ferguson, now reside in Richmond, Virginia.
Dr Ferguson was a member of the local lodge of Ellks and the members of the organization immediately took charge of affairs at the residence on Blanding street, notifying the coroner and wiring the sad news to the young wife in Virginia.
BODY OF DR FERGUSON CARRIED TO VIRGINIA
Escorted to the Train by the Columbia Elks, and Member of the Medical Society
The body of the late Dr Richard Ferguson Jr, the story of whose sudden death was told yesterday, was cared for during Thursday night by a committee from the local lodge of Elks, receiving those friends of the family who called at the residence. At 5 o'clock the members of the organization assembled at the club rooms, donned their purple and white badges, veiled in crepe, and marched in a body to the residence, thirty strong.
The casket was then borne to the hearse by eight Elks and members of the medical society. The procession that marched behind the hearse was headed by Exalted Ruler Clark; behind him were the members of the order, two by two. Then came several large carriages bearing the members of the Medical Society and several friends of the family.
The body was sent away on the Seaboard train and was accompanied by a committee of Elks, and Dr P V Mikell accompanied the body as the special escort on behalf of the Columbia Medical Society. The lodge of Elks at Petersburg were notified that the committee from Columbia would arrive there this morning with Dr Ferguson's body.
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