The Sudden Loss of a Popular Dixie Resident
A young life cut short at St. Mary’s Hospital sends shockwaves through the community of Dixie.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Miss Mary Lewis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Lewis of Dixie, died at St. Mary's Hospital late yesterday afternoon of peritonitis, following an operation for appendicitis performed last Monday. Miss Lewis was aged 21 years and was exceedingly popular among her associates. The remains were transferred to the Cookerly undertaking parlors this morning and prepared for burial. Later they were removed to the home of Charles Cochran, a brother-in-law at Dixie, from which place the funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon. Rev. Clancy of Dixie will conduct the funeral services. Interment will be in the Dixie cemetery.
“Miss Lewis was aged 21 years and was exceedingly popular among her associates.”
Appendicitis was a terrifying diagnosis in 1903 before the wide adoption of surgical safety measures. This story serves as a somber reminder of how fragile life was in early Walla Walla, even for the young and well-connected.
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